Enzo Maresca reveals Luis Enrique’s surprise post-match comment after PSG thriller

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Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique claimed his side was ‘quite lucky’ to beat Manchester City 4-2.Enrique’s surprising admission was revealed by City boss Enzo Maresca during his post-match interview with TNT Sports.Maresca took charge of his first Champions League home game as Man City manager, but it ended in defeatGettyPSG raced out to a three-goal lead inside the first 32 minutes courtesy of goals from Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha.The early deficit marked the first time City shipped three goals in the opening half of a home game since November 2015, underlining the rarity of their defensive woes.Although Erling Haaland netted twice in the second half, it mattered little as PSG romped to their eighth win over an English rival in Champions League action.Despite the scoreline, which was aided by a string of errors from City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Maresca felt his side ‘deserved more’.“I think we start quite good until the first goal and then we concede the second one after one minute,” Maresca said.“That created some bad feelings.“Second half, we were much better and probably deserved something more.“It was a bit strange, to be honest. Until the first goal, we started quite good, we were in the game, then we conceded the first and then the second one. We didn’t lose half-time, we adjusted something. We created enough to deserve something more.“We adjusted a bit when we were pressing. I think we lost a bit of the balance.“Even with 3-0 in the first half, with the amount of chances we created in the second half, we deserved more. Luis said at the end of the game that they were quite lucky today.Former Man City manager Pep Guardiola watched on from the sidelines as his old side were cut openAFP“You have to be clinical but not lose the balance.”Maresca added he and his players ‘are sorry’ for the first half and will look to put it right on Saturday when City host Ipswich Town.The loss to PSG dropped City down to 17th in the Champions League standings after two games.As for the Parisians, they sit in first place having won both of their matches.PSG have scored ten and conceded three, putting them top on goals scored ahead of eight other teams, including Barcelona, Aston Villa, Arsenal and Liverpool.What did Enrique say publicly?Enrique echoed his comments he made to Maresca in his full interview with TNT Sports.He said: “It was very, very, very tough. I think credit to them because we started the match great and scored three goals and it was a big difference.“But I don’t love going in at half time with that difference because you think the match is done, and it’s not done – you are in trouble.“I think it was a very nice match. The way they play, it is amazing. The way Enzo Maresca plays is really nice and we like to play these kind of matches.“I have to repeat, we were lucky because in the second half, we could have conceded more goals.“Football is sometimes unfair, and you have to balance your performance because if you concede so many chances, it’s hard to win.“Today, we were lucky, and we need to improve that in the future.”Enrique was extremely complimentary of Maresca and Man City despite dishing out their first defeat of the seasonGettyStory of the gamePSG hit the front after just 13 minutes through a clever move down the right.Fabian Ruiz then collected and played a pass with the outside of his boot to Doue.Doue cut inside and looked up as if he was going to pass before reversing a shot in at the near post, catching everyone by surprise.It was 2-0 two minutes later as Doue and Dembele linked up beautifully with the former lifting a cross to the far post for the latter to head home.The third came just after the half hour mark as Warren Zaire-Emery delicately flicked a ball into Vitinha’s path, and he caressed it into the back of the net from just inside the box.At half time, Maresca made a triple change as Iliman Ndiaye, Matheus Nunes and Ayyoub Bouaddi came on.Ndiaye made an instant impact to set up Haaland as he cut in from the left and delivered a vicious cross that was glanced home by the big striker.But with the momentum with the home side, Donnarumma made a howler.Maghnes Akliouche turned and rifled in a shot from the edge of the box that the Italian palmed away but only backwards, and he couldn’t prevent it dropping over the line.City kept creating chance after chance and grabbed a second when Enzo Fernandez played Bouaddi in down the right-hand-side of the box.Bouaddi then picked out Haaland, and he slotted home, and there was even time for a missed penalty after Nunes brought Nuno Mendes down in the area.Former Man City man Ferran Torres stepped up and hit his effort straight at Donnarumma as PSG held on.Next up for them is a home clash against Barcelona, which looks like a blockbuster, while City take on AEK Athens.