Enzo Maresca said Manchester City’s 2-1 defeat by Aston Villa was “not deserved” but insisted he has no concerns about Mark Guehi after the defender’s error contributed to the opening goal.
Nicholas Jackson gave Aston Villa the lead at Villa Park after Guehi failed to control the ball. It fell to John McGinn, who supplied Jackson for the finish, before the striker added a second goal later in the match.
Guehi was replaced at half-time after being booked in the 32nd minute. His mistake came after errors by the defender had also helped Ipswich score twice against Manchester City in their previous league match.
“I am not worried about Mark Guehi at all,” Maresca told The Guardian after the game.
“He has played every minute since the start of the season for us and for the England national team, and that is not easy. But his substitution was also because he had a yellow card.
“Considering the way we want to play, based on pressing and intensity, having a player on a yellow card can sometimes be a risk. But I am not worried at all.”
Manchester City had 15 shots to Aston Villa’s eight, but dropped points in the Premier League for the first time this season. Aston Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki made several important saves to protect his side’s advantage in the second half, while both of the hosts’ goals came from their only two efforts on target.
Maresca felt the result did not reflect the balance of the match.
“I think we deserved more from the game, considering the number of chances we created and also the chances we allowed the opposition to have,” he said.
“We lost because, probably, we were not decisive enough inside the Aston Villa penalty area.”
Maresca also explained why Morocco international Ayoub Bouaddi did not feature against Aston Villa, after the midfielder was left without minutes.
“I think it was a little different against Paris Saint-Germain,” he said. “I think today we needed technically gifted midfielders, which is why Cherki and Foden played.”
“But there is no doubt that Ayoub Bouaddi is going to help us. Enzo Fernandez and Elliot Anderson both had a very good game.”
Maresca added that Bouaddi would have opportunities to play as the season continued.
“We have many matches and, certainly, Ayoub Bouaddi will get minutes,” he said.
The comments about Bouaddi were published by The Touchline on X on 24 October 2026.
