Overview
- Maresca said he will rest Erling Haaland at times to protect his fitness because the season is long and the striker returned from the World Cup without a normal pre‑season.
- City named a 22‑man travelling squad for the Champions League trip to Porto that excludes Nico O’Reilly and Jeremy Doku because both are unavailable for the match.
- Maresca confirmed younger and recent signings Ayyoub Bouaddi, Ryan McAidoo and Iliman Ndiaye will be given Champions League minutes as part of his rotation strategy.
- The manager identified Antoine Semenyo and Phil Foden as short‑term options to lead the line when Haaland is rested and said selection will depend on the game plan.
- The moves come as Maresca reshapes a heavily reworked squad after a major summer of transfers and high‑profile departures and seeks to balance short‑term match demands with player welfare.