Manager supports under fire keeper
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed he still supports Gianluigi Donnarumma. This comes after the goalkeeper made a mistake during the 3-2 win against RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday. Donnarumma let a shot beat him at his near post for one of the goals. There were other moments where the Italy number one looked uncomfortable.
Maresca said it is not a concern but admitted it was a mistake. He pointed out that the 27 year old made a great save just before the error. The manager is not planning to change his goalkeeper during the upcoming international break. He believes Donnarumma will improve and get back to his best form soon. Maresca said that the player knows the first goal was not good but he is going to do better.
Defensive errors in Germany
City won the game but conceded twice. They led twice before Leipzig equalised. An own goal from Castello Lukeba and a header by Enzo Fernández put City ahead. However, Ridle Baku and Antonio Nusa scored for the German side to keep the game close.
Maresca described the goals conceded as silly. He wants his team to avoid these errors in the future. The manager noted that he has only been with the players for four months. He is happy with the progress made in that short time and expects the team to get better as they learn his style. He said the players need to know him and he needs to know them.
Haaland nears scoring record
Erling Haaland scored the winning goal in the 78th minute. He had a quiet game with only 12 touches before scoring. He finished a pass from Elliot Anderson to secure the three points for City. This was his 14th goal of the season and his 62nd goal in 61 career Champions League appearances.
Haaland has now scored 176 goals for Manchester City in total. This puts him just one goal behind Eric Brook. Brook is currently the second highest scorer in the history of the club. Maresca praised the striker for being ready to help the team at any moment. He said it is always important that Haaland is in the game because he can score at any time.
Focus shifts to Nottingham Forest
The team now turns its attention back to the Premier League. They face Nottingham Forest away in just 48 hours. Maresca wants his players to stay focused on the next match rather than worrying about past mistakes. He said the team needs to be ready for the trip.
The manager remains confident despite the defensive issues. He highlighted that winning away in Germany is always a difficult task in the Champions League. City created many chances during the game and Maresca is pleased with the three points.
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