Enzo Maresca suffers defeat in first Man City game as Pep’s successor forced to watch horror penalty shootout vs Inter
ENZO MARESCA might need to add penalties to the list of things to work on as Manchester City get used to life without Pep Guardiola.
The new Italian coach began his reign with a friendly against Inter Milan in Hong Kong and the game went to a shoot-out after ending all square.
Rayan Ait Nouri, Abdukodir Khusanov and Nico Gonzalez all missed from the spot – while Gianluigi Donnarumma could only save one from his countrymen.
Yet Maresca will have been largely encouraged by the performance of a team which is still missing most of his World Cup stars.
The first goal of his tenure arrived inside the first quarter of an hour as Antoine Semenyo did brilliantly down the left and squared for young striker Divin Mubama to tap home.
However the lead lasted only six minutes as Federico Dimarco crossed for France international Benjamin Pavard to level the scores.
Both sides made a series of changes and two of them came close to winning it for City with defender Vitor Reis and winger Ryan McAidoo both hitting the woodwork.
But Maresca’s men could not find a winner and it went to penalties to decide the winner of the 2026 Asahi Super Dry Trophy.
Of City’s four takers, only young Argentine Claudio Echeverri managed to score from the spot – dinking in a cheeky Panenka.
The Prem side will spend the next couple of days in Hong Kong before flying to South Korea on Tuesday, where they will play two more friendlies.
One of the biggest positives for City would have been Semenyo, who made an impact by creating Mubama’s opener.
Speaking after the game on City’s Matchday Live, the Ghana international admitted he had worked hard to be ready despite only recently returning from the World Cup.
The 26-year-old said: “The World Cup didn’t end long ago but I’ve been keeping myself in shape. I feel good.
“Sometimes when you watch my clips, I’m right-footed and I try to change up my game as much as I can.”
Semenyo also praised his new boss, adding: “It’s been amazing. He’s been really good with us and you can see in the game the patterns we are working on. Everyone has been enjoying it.”
City’s pre-season tour continues in South Korea with a game against the K-League All Stars on Wednesday, and Maresca will hope that more time on the pitch will help his players build ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign.
