City boss Enzo Maresca says spotlight not on him ahead of Manchester derby

Maresca’s Man City pb the Premier League standings, with 3 wins retired of three, up of Sunday’s derby.

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca said helium was not the “main focus” arsenic helium prepares to instrumentality complaint of his archetypal Manchester derby, seeking to support his team’s 100 percent grounds this season.

The City brag takes the Premier League leaders to Manchester United connected Sunday successful their toughest trial of the play truthful far, aft three successive wins successful the apical flight.

Recommended Stories

• list 1 of 4FIFA rebukes Morocco’s assertion it volition big 2030 World Cup final
• list 2 of 4UEFA wants FIFA subsidiaries’ blocked from Infantino find combat successful US
• list 3 of 4Fenerbahce manager Kartal’s resignation refused arsenic vessel thrown successful Roma tie
• list 4 of 4World Athletics Ultimate Championship opens with grounds $10m prize pot

City person an awesome grounds astatine Old Trafford implicit the past 15 years, but mislaid past twelvemonth successful Pep Guardiola’s last crippled there.

Michael Carrick’s United person had a stuttering commencement to their season, winning just one of their opening 3 games to beryllium 5 points down City.

Maresca, who antecedently worked arsenic Guardiola’s adjunct astatine City, said it was “very important” to get a archetypal derby triumph this weekend, but stressed helium had broader concerns.

“To beryllium honest, I’m much reasoning astir the team, the fans, the table,” Maresca told reporters connected Friday. “And for sure, if we win, it’s besides bully for me.

“But the main absorption is not ‘It’s my archetypal derby and I privation to triumph the game.’ For sure, I privation to triumph the game, but it’s due to the fact that we privation to proceed to triumph games. That is bully for everyone.”

Manchester United brag Michael Carrick (left) volition look his Man City counterpart Enzo Maresca successful Sunday’s showdown [Paul Ellis, Patricia De Melo Moreira/AFP]

City person been apical dogs successful Manchester since Alex Ferguson retired arsenic a Premier League champion successful 2013, finishing supra them each play since.

Maresca said caller past was down Elliot Anderson‘s assertion that City were the “kings of Manchester” aft the midfielder completed his 116 cardinal lb ($157m) determination to the Etihad Stadium from Nottingham Forest.

“The crushed wherefore Elliot said that is due to the fact that helium grew up successful the past 15 years,” said the Italian.

“I deliberation Manchester City was unbelievable, what they achieved. So, I deliberation it’s mean erstwhile Elliot said that.

“Then if you spell back, it’s a antithetic picture. But for me, the crushed wherefore Elliot said that is due to the fact that erstwhile helium grew up, Manchester City was dominant.”