Enzo Maresca Defends Toothless Manchester City Display Despite Brighton and Hove Albion Disappointment

Enzo Maresca Defends Toothless Manchester City Display Despite Brighton and Hove Albion Disappointment Maresca and co have suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats for the first time since the Italian was appointed City manager in June, with the loss to Brighton following the 2-1 reverse at Aston Villa a week earlier, with the club also playing against the backdrop of an independent commission's guilty verdict on 114 of 115 charges. The result came three days after Manchester City drew 2-2 with Fabian Hürzeler's side in the Carabao Cup fourth round, before Geronimo Rulli saved two penalties to help the Blues scrape past the Seagulls in a 4-3 shootout win. However, Saturday was a far different story as Brighton were by far the better side as they moved to two points within City with a clinical 1-0 away win. We just conceded the three chances they scored from and no more, says Maresca in Man City's defense Speaking to BBC Sport after the defeat, Maresca reflected on the double-header against Brighton in the space of four days. The Italian said: "The amount of chances we created and the chances we conceded, if you analyse the two games I think we just conceded the three chances they scored [from] and no more. But, in this moment, it's like this, and we need to move on and try to win games." Yasin Ayari scored the only goal in the 11th minute, finishing a move that began with a quick free-kick from Lewis Dunk after Matheus Nunes was caught out attempting a clearance inside the Manchester City penalty area. Maresca was then asked about his side's response to conceding early at his post-match press conference. "I thought the reaction was good. We were in control, especially second half. In this moment, it's like this and we need to just improve and move on," the City manager added. "We spent most of the game on their side, especially second-half, in their box and sometimes you need to be a bit more clinical in the box. But the important thing is we created enough." Iliman Ndiaye headed wide from an Elliot Anderson cross in the 22nd minute and later struck the woodwork shortly after the restart, whilst Bart Verbruggen made seven saves to keep a clean sheet for Brighton at the Etihad Stadium. Maxim De Cuyper missed the chance to double the lead for the visitors in the 48th minute when he fired over from close range, after Gianluigi Donnarumma had denied Diego Gomez from a tight angle before half-time. Maresca brought on Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden, Allan Elias and Nico O'Reilly at various points of the second-half as the hosts pushed for an equaliser. Verbruggen also kept out efforts from Nunes and Jeremy Doku, the latter in stoppage time, as Brighton recorded their first ever away win over Manchester City in any competition at the 18th attempt. The defeat ended City's run of scoring in 24 consecutive Premier League matches, and it was the first time since August 2025 that the Blues had lost back-to-back league games. Manchester City remain top of the table on goal difference, with Brighton now within two points of the summit and Arsenal able to move above the Blues if they avoid defeat against Liverpool on Sunday. The Blues' next Premier League fixture is a trip to face Nottingham Forest next weekend - the final league game for Maresca's side before the November international break - though City can return to winning ways against RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.