Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca regrets the chances his team missed in their 3-0 loss to Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday.
The Italian was served a baptism by fire by the rampant Gunners in his first game in charge of the club since replacing Pep Guardiola, failing to mark his debut with a trophy.
The writing was on the wall when Riccardo Calafiori fired the Premier League champions in front after just 23 seconds into the kick-off, knocking it beyond Gianluigi Donnarumma following an excellent through ball from Myles Lewis-Skelly. Kai Havertz made it 2-0 in the 28th minute before Martin Odegaard added a third shortly into the second half.
Maresca felt his team had the chance to come back into it right after but failed to capitalize on them. Speaking to the press after the game, he said:
"I think a big part of the game was the first goal we conceded. I think the reaction was good. Before they scored the second goal we had chances to score and to draw the game. Unfortunately, we missed the chances and then after the second goal it became more difficult."
In the 21st minute, with Arsenal still only 1-0 ahead, Phil Foden maneuvered his way into the area from the right and fired a shot that goalkeeper David Raya dived low to parry away. The rebound came off for Erling Haaland, who raced forward to connect with it and tried a shot but Raya reacted quickly to deny the Norwegian too in a splendid double-save.
Haaland then spurned another chance in the 36th minute when Jeremy Doku picked him out on the right and the striker attempted to chip an onrushing Raya but put too much power on it to blaze it right into the stands.
Doku also came in with a chance in the dying embers of the first half but Ben White blocked it as Arsenal held firm to frustrate City, who completely faded in the second half. Maresca's handful of substitutions also came to nothing as the Gunners remained in cruise control.
The City coach however, said it's still early days but called for a period of inquest before their Premier League opener next weekend.
"It's just the beginning. We have many things that we need to do better. Now [we] try to reset and analyse the game and think about the next game."
Manchester City begin their 2026-27 league season at home to Bournemouth on Sunday, 23 August.
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