Manchester City won an easy game in the third stage of the Carabao Cup. The final score against Norwich City was 5-0, but the match was trending toward 50-0 if it had continued for another 90 minutes. (OK, that is only a slight exaggeration.) The victory was the sixth in a row since Enzo Maresca took over for some guy named Pep.
Four of those wins have come in the English Premier League, one in the Champions League, and then the one against poor Norwich. In the last four matches, City hasn't allowed a goal. That is a perfect start to Maresca's time as manager, and one should think he might celebrate, right?
Not so fast, and rightfully so. There are 34 matches left in the EPL, the rest of the Champions League draw, as well as the Carabao Cup. Winning six matches doesn't mean anything if a team doesn't pull through at the end. Or, in Maresca's view, the next match, which happens to be against Sunderland on Sunday.
Enzo Maresca is taking the perfect approach to Manchester City's win streak
After the match on Thursday, Maresca was asked by the media how he felt about his 6-0 start, and his answer was succinct and correct.
"Very happy with these six (wins) in a row," Maresca said, "but now the main focus is on the next one. I am not thinking we have won six in a row. I am happy, yes, but now the focus is on (Sunderland) and then the international break."
Many managers might express that intention after going on a win streak, but Maresca has enough experience, both in winning and losing, to understand that what has happened previously isn't necessarily going to happen in the future. Key injuries could happen, after all.
The season is a marathon and not a sprint. Erling Haaland isn't likely to go into a slump, of course, but he could. What happens to the team then? What happens if he pulls a Phil Foden and gets suspended for several games? What happens if Antoine Semenyo is injured?
Too many unforeseen things can happen during a season, and they likely will occur. Manchester City's red-hot start doesn't mean long-term success. That is likely to happen, but it cannot be assumed to happen.
That is why Enzo Maresca's logical approach is the best. Plus, who wants to lose to Sunderland, a squad that Man City is clearly better than? And who wants to have that loss before the last match before a long break? No one. Taking it one match at a time is best, and hopefully each match will be a win, followed by yet another win.
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