Enzo Maresca expressed his satisfaction following his debut match as Manchester City manager, despite the team falling short in a penalty shootout against Inter Milan. The pre-season friendly, held in Hong Kong, ended 1-1 in regulation time before the Italian champions clinched a 3-1 victory on penalties, with Matteo Lavelli converting the decisive spot-kick.
Maresca, who succeeded the iconic Pep Guardiola in June, praised his squad’s overall performance after the match. He highlighted the importance of building match fitness and acknowledged that while there is room for improvement, progress will come gradually.
Match Highlights and Key Moments
The game began with a strong showing from City, who opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Antoine Semenyo’s skillful run to the byline set up the young forward Divin Mubama, who finished clinically from close range. Semenyo continued to trouble Inter’s defense, nearly scoring a remarkable solo goal as he slipped past several defenders but was ultimately denied by goalkeeper Josep Martinez.
Inter responded swiftly, capitalizing on a defensive lapse when City failed to clear a cross from Jamal Iddrissou. The ball found Benjamin Pavard, who made no mistake slotting the equalizer from near the penalty spot.
The second half saw both teams create notable chances, but neither could find the breakthrough, leading to the penalty shootout that ultimately decided the contest in favor of Inter Milan.
Despite the defeat, Maresca remains optimistic, emphasizing the positives gained from the match and the ongoing development under his leadership.