Enzo Maresca has said Manchester United cannot complain about the controversial derby winner on Sunday because Manchester City are still awaiting an apology from the referees’ chief, Howard Webb, for a match-defining decision in the same fixture three years ago.
City lost at Old Trafford in 2023 after Bruno Fernandes equalised despite an offside Marcus Rashford running close to the through ball from which his teammate scored. Maresca was Pep Guardiola’s assistant at the time and had to witness Rashford’s winner a few minutes later.
“The goal was not a regular goal, if you remember,” Maresca said. “And to be honest, no one apologised. We are still waiting for the apology for that goal. Sometimes it happens for you, sometimes it happens against you. It’s football.”
City host Norwich on Thursday in the Carabao Cup, a competition which provides Maresca with the first opportunity to win a trophy at the club. Guardiola won it on a record five occasions.
Phil Foden will not be involved after being sent off against United for kicking out at Fernandes, receiving a three-match ban. “At half-time, he was very sad, very upset because he knew there was something wrong,” Maresca said. “Then after the game he was a little bit more relieved, he was a little bit more happy. And then yesterday he was very good. He knows the reaction was not a good one, but again, it’s finished and we move on.”
Maresca, who worked as head coach of City’s under-21s and had five graduates reach the first team, could offer opportunities to youngsters as well as fringe players. The teenagers Ryan McAidoo, Kaden Braithwaite and Floyd Samba, son of the former Blackburn defender Chris, will be in the squad, having spent the season with the first-team group.
“When we started pre-season we had many young players and then at the end we decided to keep just these three players,” Maresca said. “They can work with us every day, they can improve, and at some point they can also get a chance to get some minutes.”
The Brazilian attacker Allan and the Argentinian goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli could make debuts after joining in the summer. Jérémy Doku is making good progress in his rehabilitation from a calf injury picked up in the Community Shield.
