Enzo Maresca Praises Team's Depth and Control in European Victory

Enzo Maresca walked away from a gruelling European night convinced his side had shown exactly what he wanted to see: depth, control and a ruthless streak that, in his view, could easily have produced an even bigger scoreline.

Reflecting on the performance, the Italian made no attempt to hide his satisfaction with both the result and the manner of it. He felt his team had done more than enough to put the game away early.

“I think we could've scored more goals, especially in the first half but overall I think we deserved to win the game,” he told Amazon Prime, summing up a display that mixed composure with authority in hostile surroundings.

His side carved out chances, limited clear opportunities at the other end and, crucially, never looked rattled despite the inevitable pressure that comes with a European away tie.

“We created enough chances to win the game. We didn't concede a lot. It's normal to come here and concede some chances because it's normal, so overall happy with the performance,” he said, underlining how his team had largely kept the contest under control.

Maresca also circled back to a theme that has run through his early tenure: the luxury of options. He knows he can rotate, tweak and still trust the players he brings in.

“I think I am lucky because all the squad is good players, for a manager it is easy because you can give minutes to all of them, and tonight I think the guys that were inside were very good.”

Bouaddi steals the spotlight

On a night stacked with established names, it was Ayyoub Bouaddi who drew some of the loudest praise. The teenager, lining up alongside Enzo Fernandez, played with a calm that belied both his age and the occasion.

Maresca singled him out, placing him in the same breath as some of the dressing room’s biggest figures.

“The good thing is that from Erling [Haaland], Ruben [Dias], Mateo [Kovacic] you expect how to manage this game but he was never in panic, Ayyoub Bouaddi. He was very good and I think the performance was unbelievable.”

No nerves. No rush. Just a clean, composed performance in midfield that caught the eye not only of his manager, but also of one of the most demanding forwards in the game.

Erling Haaland has seen enough training sessions to form a quick judgement. His verdict on Bouaddi was emphatic.

“I think he played a very good game. Last couple of weeks in training, I told the chairman that he has been amazing, so I think we have a gem here,” the striker said, lifting the lid on how highly the youngster is already rated inside the camp.

Then came the sting, delivered with a smile. Haaland, ever the predator, has not forgotten one moment in particular.

“But to be honest, I think he should of played me through in the second half when I was all alone. I was a bit angry, so I will tell him right now, he played a good game, except that pass.”

One missed ball, one lesson. For Bouaddi, it is the kind of detail that separates promise from the finished article. For Maresca, it is exactly the sort of problem he wants: a teenager good enough to be judged by Haaland’s standards on a European night.