Maresca eyes rest for Haaland amid busy City schedule
Enzo Maresca says Erling Haaland and several City regulars will need rest after a hectic opening to the season covering club and international fixtures.
· Kickhell
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has said he will consider giving Erling Haaland a period of rest after a demanding start to the season that has included international duty with Norway.
Haaland has scored 10 goals from nine appearances in all competitions this season and once again leads the Premier League's top scorer chart. The Norwegian added four more caps during the recent international break, extending an already congested schedule.
"At some point we probably need to give him rest, some days off," Maresca said at his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's Premier League fixture against Ipswich Town.
The City boss stressed that the concern extends beyond Haaland alone. Elliot Anderson, Enzo Fernández, Marc Guéhi and Rúben Dias have all featured heavily for both club and country, and Maresca said the squad's workload would require careful management across the coming weeks.
"We have players, unfortunately or fortunately, they are playing all the games with us and all the games with the international teams," he added. "Elliot, Enzo, Marc, Erling, Rúben – so at some point we probably need to give them some rest."
Maresca also offered a strong character assessment of Fernández, who joined City from Chelsea and has helped the club win all seven of their opening Premier League matches to sit top of the table. The Italian said the midfielder is frequently misjudged by outside observers.
"He is a nice person. He has a big heart and is a nice person. Polite, professional. Sometimes the image from outside is completely different from the reality," Maresca said. "He is a top guy, with a great family – mum and dad, wife, kids. I know all of them."
City face Ipswich Town on Saturday before turning their attention to Champions League action next week.
