As Manchester City gears up for their Champions League opener against Porto, head coach Enzo Maresca has acknowledged the fatigue experienced by his players, particularly those who participated in the recent World Cup. Speaking at the Dragao Stadium on Monday, Maresca reflected on the challenges of finding form early in the season.
Maresca's comments come in light of remarks made by striker Erling Haaland, who shared his thoughts on player fatigue through his YouTube channel. Despite scoring three goals in three league matches, Haaland noted that he did not participate in any warm-up games due to Norway's deep run in the World Cup, which concluded with their quarterfinal exit.
"The new season started and I didn’t even have a pre-season. I normally have a bit of pre-season but this time, just nothing," Haaland explained. He emphasized the importance of mental sharpness alongside physical readiness, stating, "The physical side will come, if you manage to stay injury free, but you need to be sharp mentally as well, and that’s not easy."
The Norwegian striker expressed a sense of longing for a proper break from football, acknowledging the demanding schedule that leaves little time for rest. "We need to have that eager feeling to go back but we don’t because there is no time to properly stay away from football because there are so many games and the season is longer," he said. Despite his concerns, Haaland remained positive about the opportunity to play throughout the year.
Maresca showed understanding of the players' plight, stating, "It’s not easy for them; it’s not easy for Erling, it’s not easy for most of the players that continue to play for their international teams." He emphasized the importance of managing player fatigue, suggesting that some may need rest, which could mean missing a game or taking a week off, depending on the situation.
The coach acknowledged the difficulty in balancing daily focus with long-term expectations, noting, "To be focused on the day by day makes it very complicated to think where we can be in February, March, April in terms of expectation." However, he remains committed to ensuring that the team improves with each game, highlighting the need for gradual progress as they navigate the early stages of the season.
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