Erling Haaland directed a lighthearted critique at his new Manchester City teammate Ayyoub Bouaddi following the club's 2-0 Champions League opening win against Porto at the Estadio do Dragao. Bouaddi, an 18-year-old who joined City for £85.7 million from Lille, made his first start for the club and impressed in the match.
Haaland, who scored both goals in the victory and was named Player of the Match, spoke about Bouaddi's debut performance. "I think he did a really, really good game," Haaland said. "The last couple of weeks in training... I just told the chairman (Khaldoon Al Mubarak) he's been amazing in training and everything, so I think we've got a gem there."
Despite the praise, Haaland jokingly added, "To be honest, I think he should have played me in, in the second half. I was all alone, so I was a bit angry. I will tell him right now, but he played a good game, except for that pass."
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ger, Enzo Maresca, who is in his first season as City's head coach, also lauded Bouaddi's composure and performance. "Oh my God! Bouaddi was very good," Maresca stated. "Against Coventry he lost two balls and after that he was inside our box, calm. This shows how good he is because any player, after you miss two passes, can panic. You don’t expect it a guy who’s 18 to manage this game and he was top. I didn’t see him in any moment panic. This is the reason why he is here with us."
Maresca, a former assistant coach under Pep Guardiola, has guided City to four wins in his first five matches. The team's next fixture is the Manchester derby against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.