Erling Haaland and Enzo Maresca Praise Ayyoub Bouaddi After Impressive Manchester City Display in Porto
Enzo Maresca and Erling Haaland have praised 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi following Manchester City's 2-0 Champions League victory against Porto. Making his first start in central midfield at the Estadio do Dragao, Bouaddi impressed with a calm and confident performance, earning praise from teammates and coaching staff alike.
Strong Debut for Teenager
Manchester City began their Champions League group stage campaign with a solid win over Porto. Alongside Haaland's two second-half goals, Bouaddi stood out in midfield, completing 54 of 55 passes and recovering possession seven times before being replaced by Mateo Kovacic in the 76th minute. His composed display showed maturity beyond his years.
Maresca Applauds Team Effort and Bouaddi's Calmness
After the match, manager Enzo Maresca highlighted the squad's depth and quality during a tough European trip. Speaking to Amazon Prime, he said:
"I think we could have scored more goals, especially in the first half, but overall I believe we deserved the win. We created enough chances and didn’t concede many. It’s normal to face some opportunities against a team like Porto, so I’m happy with the performance."
Maresca also singled out Bouaddi's poise on the big stage:
"From players like Erling [Haaland], Ruben [Dias], Mateo [Kovacic] you expect how to handle the game but Ayyoub Bouaddi never panicked. He was very good – his performance was unbelievable."
Haaland Calls Bouaddi a 'Gem'
Before stepping onto the pitch, Bouaddi had already caught the attention of senior players, including Haaland. The striker praised the youngster's potential but joked about a missed opportunity during the match:
"I think he played a very good game. In training these past weeks, I told the chairman he's been amazing, so I think we have a gem here. But honestly, I think he should have played me through in the second half when I was alone. I was a bit angry, so I’ll tell him now: he played well except for that pass."
City's Winning Streak Continues Ahead of Manchester Derby
This victory in Portugal extended Manchester City's unbeaten run to four wins across all competitions this season. The team’s resilience will be tested soon in a Premier League clash against local rivals Manchester United. Bouaddi’s confident showing in midfield boosts his chances of regular appearances as the club faces a demanding autumn schedule.
Upcoming Fixtures:
- 12 Sept 2026, 19:00: FC Porto vs Casa Pia ACCAP
- 13 Sept 2026, 17:30: Manchester United vs Manchester City
