Seven wins, and still nobody is happy
Manchester City beat Ipswich Town 3–2 at the Etihad on Saturday. Seven Premier League games, seven wins, 21 points, six clear of Arsenal (1)(2)(7). Enzo Maresca is the first manager in the competition's history to win his opening seven league matches at a club (2). He said afterwards he was "molto felice", and that City "controlled the match for 95 minutes" (1).
They conceded twice to Ipswich. Hold both of those things.
The middle of the pitch is where the argument sits
Four days before Ipswich, City lost 2–4 at home to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League (6). Six goals conceded in two home matches since the international break. The league table says this defence is the best in the country. The European one says it is wide open when the opponent actually wants the ball.
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Maresca's side are not grinding teams down the way City sides used to. They are outscoring them. Nineteen league goals in seven games gets that done against Ipswich. It does not get it done against PSG, and it will not get it done in the knockout rounds.
Foden is back, and that is the week's best news
Phil Foden scored against Ipswich. Maresca's praise afterwards was not the usual managerial politeness: "Sento dal primo giorno che è un giocatore molto importante per noi. È un top player, ha solo bisogno di essere positivo, fiducioso e, di sicuro, aiuterà la squadra" (7).
Foden has 111 goals for this club and has never taken a penalty to get one. He does not need to be the main man. He needs to be fit, in the box, and finishing. That version of him is worth more to City this season than any signing they could have made in August.
The injury list is longer than the table suggests
Maresca gave the fitness rundown after Ipswich and it was a mixed bag (5). Kovacic, Nunes and Haaland all told him they were fine. O'Reilly's back is still a problem. Semenyo is the one nobody has an answer for yet: "The only one we need to wait on was Antoine, and we will see" (5).
Haaland has eight league goals already (4). If Tuesday comes with him at anything less than full, City's attack loses its reference point and the build-up has to change.
A record crowd, and a case that will not go away
The Etihad held 60,817 on 17 October, a club record (8). On the same weekend, reporting suggested rival Premier League clubs doubt the financial case against City will be settled before the season ends (3). Both facts sit on the same table now. A club breaking attendance records while the rest of the league waits on a verdict.
What to watch
AEK Athens at the Etihad on Tuesday 20 October, 21:00 CEST (6). After PSG, this is the game where Maresca finds out if his midfield can defend without the ball for ninety minutes. Then Aston Villa away on Saturday 24 October, then Brighton at home on 31 October.
