Enzo Maresca believes Erling Haaland has become “complete” as his priorities have changed after the birth of the Manchester City No 9’s son two years ago. Haaland has again started the campaign in prolific form, scoring three goals in City’s opening three Premier League victories. In three of the 26‑year‑old’s four previous seasons at City he has won the Premier League golden boot.
Maresca pointed to how the birth of his son in 2024 changed the Norwegian’s motivation. The manager said: “He’s a man now. When he arrived here [in summer 2022] he was not a dad and now he’s a dad and life completely changes because the priority becomes his son.
I’m happy for him because he was already top as a player and as a boy but now you can see that he is complete. He is a family man, he is still scoring goals so I’m very happy for him.” City are at Porto in the opening league‑phase game of the Champions League on Tuesday. Haaland has played every competitive minute of the campaign so far, and Maresca said he will be rested at some point, particularly as as the striker was part of the Norway team that reached the World Cup quarter-finals.
The Italian said: “It’s not easy for Erling or for any of the players that play for club and international teams. I think it is normal that you [may] see these players start to be tired. So, it’s correct to give them some rest.
It can be one game out or one week away. When you see them tired the risk of injury increases, and we need players who are 100%.” While Maresca’s options if Haaland is rested against Porto would be selecting Antoine Semenyo at centre-forward, or fielding Phil Foden or Rayan Cherki as a false 9, he pointed to the in-game control the two latter players can give City when required. Against Coventry, it was good for him to drop a little bit and manage the tempo and not always be a reference for the other team.
We need him in the right position because he gives us the quality. Phil can also do that – and the last pass between the lines is very good so we are lucky that we have two very good players that can do this.” In his first campaign as head coach, Francesco Farioli led Porto to their 31st title, and they have a maximum 15 points from their opening five Primeira Liga games. Maresca was asked if City will be favourites at the Estádio do Dragão.
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