Maresca finds value in City's gritty win over Coventry

Blues battle through ugly moments to maintain perfect start

Manchester City's pristine Premier League record remains intact, but Saturday's 1-0 win over Coventry was not the kind of performance that will feature in any highlight reels. That, according to Enzo Maresca, was precisely the point.

Erling Haaland's first-half strike separated the sides at the Etihad, yet the closing stages were anything but serene. Coventry pushed for an equaliser, forcing Gianluigi Donnarumma into action as City clung to their slender advantage.

Maresca made no attempt to dress up the display. "Not all the wins are going to be nice," he admitted. "We need this kind of win in every way."

"To be honest, I was really pleased with the win," Maresca said. "The main reason why is nine times in this kind of game, you finish conceding."

The Italian's satisfaction stemmed from the resilience shown when the game turned scrappy. City had leads before and let them slip; here, they defended throw-ins and set pieces with a togetherness that pleased their manager. "The way we suffer together at the end was a good one," he reflected.

There was a hint of self-inflicted difficulty. Maresca felt his side should have been out of sight before the interval. "First half was 1-0 but we could have scored one or two more," he said. "We kept them alive. With 2-0 it's a different game."

Fernández thrust into unexpected debut

The team sheet had carried a familiar look, with new signing Fernández named among the substitutes following his Deadline Day switch from Chelsea. That plan unravelled when Nico O'Reilly reported a problem in the warm-up.

The £125million midfielder was handed an unexpected full debut, three days after arriving. Maresca explained the change of heart: "The reason Enzo wasn't supposed to start was he arrived two days ago. He was going to get minutes, but in the end it was from the start."

Fernández responded with an assured showing, playing a part in the move that produced Haaland's winner. "I think he was quite good," Maresca said. "It's easy when you already spend time together because they know exactly what you want. He's going to help us win games."

Iliman Ndiaye, the Deadline Day arrival from Everton, was handed his first taste of Maresca's system from the outset. The Senegal international later spoke of his enjoyment at making his City bow and his relief at starting with a victory.

O'Reilly concern and Anderson's rising stock

The late withdrawal of O'Reilly was an unwelcome complication, though Maresca moved quickly to ease any alarm. "Nico felt something in his back," he said. "It doesn't look serious but he wasn't able to play."

Elliot Anderson continues to make a compelling case for regular involvement. Another composed midfield display drew warm words from his manager, who revealed the 22-year-old's appetite for improvement extends beyond matchdays.

"Really impressed," Maresca said. "Not just today, he was good against Palace and he was also very good against Bournemouth. The best thing about Elliot is the day by day, he's asking how he can learn and he wants to be better. On the ball, off the ball, different kinds of things."

Three games, three wins. Not all of them will be pretty, but there is something to be said for grinding one out when the football is less than flowing. Maresca, for one, seemed to enjoy it far more than the comfortable ones.