Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has insisted his squad can tune out hostile opposition supporters after falling to their first Premier League defeat of the campaign against Aston Villa. The clash at a boisterous Villa Park was City's second away fixture since an independent commission delivered a guilty verdict regarding breaches of the Premier League's financial rules. With the club currently awaiting sanctions and the outcome of their appeal, home fans relentlessly chanted 'you know what you are' and included the word 'cheating' during Saturday's match.
Despite the antagonism from the stands, Maresca remained steadfast in his belief that his players will not be swayed by opposing supporters following recent visits to Anfield and the Midlands. 'We played Liverpool away, Villa away, and the players showed that they don't care about noise,' Maresca told BBC Sport. 'They play the game, they are focused on the game and are doing the right things. We are focused on our job and the players are focused on what they can do on the pitch.' Prior to kick-off, England international midfielder Elliot Anderson admitted to TNT Sports that 'everywhere we go we get it,' while defender Marc Guehi previously noted it can be 'very easy to listen to the noise' and be 'affected by everything going on' rather than 'just focusing on the football.'
Guehi experienced a difficult outing on the pitch against Villa, surrendering possession for the opening goal and receiving a yellow card for hauling down goalscorer Nicolas Jackson before being taken off at half-time. Maresca, however, stated that he was 'completely happy' with the centre-back, describing him as a 'top guy' while noting that errors from Guehi or goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma are 'recognised.' In the stands, the travelling City support countered the hostile environment with their own gallows humour, responding with chants of 'we know what we are' and 'City's going down with a billion in the bank.'
City will now look for respite in back-to-back home matches against Brighton in the Carabao Cup and Premier League. Maresca's men are then scheduled to visit RB Leipzig in the Champions League before heading back on the road in the domestic league to play Nottingham Forest on 7 November. Although Forest supporters are familiar with the impact of sanctions after being docked four points in 2024 for breaching financial rules, they are unlikely to show much sympathy to City's situation.