Erling Haaland and Enzo Maresca Praise Ayyoub Bouaddi After Manchester City's Win at Porto
Teenage Midfielder Shines in Manchester City’s Champions League Victory
Enzo Maresca, the manager of Manchester City, along with star striker Erling Haaland, expressed high praise for the 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi following their 2-0 win against Porto in the Champions League. Making his first start in the central midfield role, Bouaddi impressed with a calm and commanding presence at the Estadio do Dragao.
Bouaddi’s Standout Debut Performance
The victory marked the beginning of City’s group stage campaign. Alongside Haaland’s crucial two goals in the second half, Bouaddi stood out by controlling the midfield throughout his full debut. He completed an impressive 54 out of 55 passes and made seven ball recoveries before being substituted for Mateo Kovacic in the 76th minute.
Maresca Applauds Team Effort and Bouaddi’s Composure
After the match, Maresca spoke about the team’s strong collective effort during this tough European trip. He told Amazon Prime:
"I think we could have scored more goals, especially in the first half, but overall I think we deserved to win the game. We created enough chances and didn’t concede many. It’s normal to face some threats here, but I’m happy with the performance. I’m lucky because the squad is full of quality players, making it easier as a manager to rotate and give everyone minutes. Tonight, those on the pitch were very good."
Focusing on Bouaddi, Maresca added:
"With experienced players like Erling, Ruben, and Mateo, you expect control, but what’s remarkable is that Bouaddi never panicked. His performance was unbelievable."
Haaland Calls Bouaddi a ‘Gem’ Despite a Missed Pass
Playing alongside Enzo Fernandez, Bouaddi had already won respect from senior players before his debut. Haaland praised his potential but teased him about a missed pass, saying:
"I think he played very well. In training these past weeks, I told the chairman he’s been amazing; we have a gem here. But honestly, he should have played me through in the second half when I was all alone. I was a bit angry, so I’ll tell him now: he played a good game, except for that pass."
City’s Winning Momentum Continues Ahead of Manchester Derby
This win in Portugal keeps Manchester City unbeaten with four straight victories across all competitions this season. Their resilience will be tested soon against local rivals Manchester United in the Premier League. Bouaddi’s confident showing in midfield boosts his chances to feature regularly during a busy autumn schedule.
- Next fixture: Casa Pia vs FC Porto, 12 Sept 2026, 19:00
- Upcoming Premier League matches:
- Manchester United vs Manchester City, 13 Sept 2026, 17:30
