Erling Haaland and Enzo Maresca Praise Ayyoub Bouaddi After Stellar Manchester City Win at Porto

Following Manchester City's 2-0 victory against Porto in the Champions League, manager Enzo Maresca and striker Erling Haaland both expressed admiration for 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. Making his first start, the teenager impressed with a calm and assured performance at Estadio do Dragao, earning praise as a promising prospect for the future.

Teenager Shines in Full Debut

Manchester City began their Champions League group stage campaign with a solid win over Porto. Alongside Haaland's second-half brace that sealed the game, Bouaddi stood out in midfield. The young player completed 54 of 55 passes and recovered possession seven times before being substituted for Mateo Kovacic in the 76th minute, showing composure beyond his years.

Maresca Commends Team Effort and Bouaddi’s Calmness

Reflecting on the match, Maresca praised the team's collective focus during a tough away fixture. Speaking to Amazon Prime, he said: "I think we could have scored more goals, especially in the first half, but overall I believe we deserved the win. We created enough chances and didn’t concede much. It’s normal to face some chances here. I'm happy with the performance. The whole squad is full of quality players, making it easier for me to rotate and give minutes to everyone. Tonight, the players on the pitch were very good."

The Italian coach singled out Bouaddi's unshaken demeanor under pressure: "From Erling [Haaland], Ruben [Dias], Mateo [Kovacic], you expect experience in managing the game, but Ayyoub Bouaddi never panicked. His performance was unbelievable."

Haaland Calls Bouaddi a 'Gem'

Even before his debut, Bouaddi had caught the attention of senior players like Haaland. The striker lauded the youngster’s potential while joking about a missed pass during the match: "I think he played a very good game. In training over the last couple of weeks, I told the chairman he's been amazing. We have a gem here. But honestly, he should have played me through in the second half when I was all alone. I was a bit angry, so I'll tell him now: he played well, except for that pass."

City’s Winning Streak Continues Ahead of Manchester Derby

This victory keeps Manchester City unbeaten with four straight wins across all competitions this season. Their resilience will be tested soon as they prepare to face local rivals Manchester United in the Premier League. Bouaddi’s confident display boosts his chances of regular appearances amid a packed schedule this autumn.

• Liga Portugal: Casa Pia vs ACCA P - 12 Sept 2026, 19:00
• FC Porto: POR
• Premier League: Manchester United vs Manchester City - 13 Sept 2026, 17:30
• Manchester United: MUN
• Manchester City: MCI