Erling Haaland faces fitness checks after suffering a foot knock against Ipswich.
Erling Haaland scored twice against Ipswich but suffered a late foot knock as Manchester City maintained their perfect Premier League start.
A Haaland injury scare left Enzo Maresca awaiting fitness checks after Manchester City’s 3-2 victory over Ipswich on Saturday. The striker scored twice at the Etihad Stadium before taking a late blow to his foot.
Haaland appeared to struggle as he left the pitch at the final whistle. However, Maresca said the Norway forward had reassured him that he felt fine.
The City manager remained hopeful that the problem would prove minor, with checks still to determine its extent. Meanwhile, the striker’s latest double lifted his tally to 12 goals in all competitions this season.
Haaland injury scare adds to fitness concerns
Haaland was not the only player to leave Maresca with concerns after the match. The manager also reported knocks involving Matheus Nunes, Mateo Kovacic, Antoine Semenyo and Nico O’Reilly.
Maresca said the problems emerged within a roughly 10-minute spell and that the players were awaiting assessment. He offered no firm diagnosis for Haaland or the other affected players.
Beyond his goals, Maresca highlighted Haaland’s leadership and role as one of the team’s captains. The forward again proved central to City’s attack, delivering another man-of-the-match performance against Ipswich.
City extend perfect Premier League start
Phil Foden opened the scoring for City, but Daizen Maeda brought Ipswich level before Haaland struck twice. Zian Flemming’s late penalty then created a tense finish, although City held on for victory.
The result kept City top of the table with seven wins from seven league matches. It also made Maresca the first Premier League manager to win his opening seven games.
City bounced back from their midweek Champions League defeat against Paris Saint-Germain with the narrow home win. Despite the late tension, Maresca said his side had controlled the contest.
He also praised the players’ daily work and improvement, crediting them for maintaining their winning league run.
Maresca praises unity amid financial case
Meanwhile, City continue to contest a guilty verdict over breaches of Premier League financial rules. The club face the possibility of a substantial points deduction or expulsion if their appeal fails.
Against that backdrop, Maresca said outside criticism had not unsettled his players. He described a happy squad and stressed the importance of recognising their performances.
Supporters also demonstrated their backing by booing the Premier League anthem and waving inflatable bananas. The gesture recalled the late 1980s, when fans continued supporting City through difficulties on the pitch.
Maresca praised the atmosphere and emphasised the unity between the club, supporters and players.
