Manchester City’s Champions League Journey Begins in Porto

Manchester City land in Porto on Tuesday night chasing another deep run in the Champions League – and Enzo Maresca has brought noise, energy and a few selection puzzles with him.

The head coach and Matheus Nunes faced the cameras before City’s Group Stage opener, offering injury updates, tactical hints and a glimpse into the new mood around the Etihad.

O’Reilly hope, Doku doubt

The biggest calls concern two attacking sparks.

Nico O’Reilly, who pulled out of the warm-up before City’s win over Coventry at the weekend, has not travelled but could be back in time for Sunday’s Manchester derby. The club have always stressed the issue was not serious, and Maresca sounded optimistic about seeing the academy product against United.

Jeremy Doku is a different story. Injured in the Community Shield, the Belgium winger was initially only expected to miss a couple of weeks. That timeline has slipped. Maresca confirmed Doku is “back” in terms of recovery work, but he has stayed in Manchester and is likely to miss at least the first five matches of the season.

“Nico yes [for the weekend]. Doku, no not yet,” Maresca said. “No setback, he is back but I don’t know if he will be available for the weekend.”

City will have to start Europe’s new-look campaign without his direct running.

Maresca’s City, Maresca’s sound

Maresca has wasted little time stamping his personality on the champions. One of the most noticeable tweaks? Music.

The Italian has introduced a soundtrack to training and warm-ups, something he previously used at Leicester and Chelsea.

“It is something I had at Leicester, Chelsea and I introduce it here,” he explained. “When it is playing, they are happy. They choose the music.”

It sounds minor. It isn’t. It speaks to a manager obsessed with energy and mood. Players talk about a “new energy” around the place, a sense of freshness after a long cycle under Pep Guardiola.

Nunes put it bluntly: “He has brought so much energy, there feels like a new energy around. He is very good energy. He sets the standard.”

Haaland the captain, Haaland the man

On the pitch, Erling Haaland remains the towering reference point. Off it, Maresca sees a very different figure to the one who first walked into the building.

“He is the second captain. He is a figure. He has won everything for the club,” Maresca said. “He is a top guy and I am happy that his leadership keeps growing because he deserves it.

“He is a man now, a dad. When he arrived here, he was not that. His life completely changed because he had a son, he is a top class player, guy but now he is complete. He is a family man.”

The goals have never been in doubt. The challenge now is managing the strain on a player who carries the load for club and country.

“It’s not easy for Erling, not easy for the players who play for their international team,” Maresca admitted. “It is correct in the moment that you see they are tired, it is then right to give them a rest. It can be one game, or one week. It is all about me making sure they are fit, happy and we need 11 players 100 per cent.”

Nunes: right-back, midfielder, whatever it takes

If Maresca has been the new voice, Nunes has become the new Swiss Army knife.

The Portugal international has already been used at right-back and in midfield, and he expects that to continue.

“I can play any position. I feel happy at right-back,” he said. “There will be moments when I can do other positions. Not yet, it depends what Mister wants for every game. I can play different positions.”

He still sees himself as a midfielder, and the way he talks about his role carries that instinct.

“I think Pep was doing that before. Obviously I do like that because I am a midfielder and going forward to attack is something I am used to. When I play I will try to do my best. When Mister decides me to play in one position, that is where I will play.”

Nunes also revealed he is now fully over the ankle problem that disrupted his start to the season.

“I’m good, I am 100 per cent. It was my ankle, the training before Arsenal there was a tackle but now I am fine.”

Porto challenge: fighters with a new face

Back in his home country, Nunes knows exactly what awaits.

“It is going to be tough. All teams have great players. I know Pepe is a great forward, he plays very well with his two feet. It is going to be a beautiful duel.”

He has seen a clear evolution in Porto’s style.

“From what I have seen, I think they really enjoy playing now, they much enjoy controlling the game. That is a huge difference. When I was playing here, it was transition football. It is part of their DNA to be fighters.”

Maresca echoed that respect.

“Very, very good team. Different good ones. The team is very clear the way they play. They have a clear style so congratulations to them.”

City are wary of Porto’s threat from dead balls in particular.

“I know that Porto are good at set pieces. It has become part of the game,” Maresca said. “Defend in the right way and score set pieces. You need to be perfect in your game.”

Asked about favourites, he refused to bite.

“We are here to do our best. The game will dictate who is favourites. It is a hard place to come, difficult place. We are going to try and do our best and try to win the game.”

New signings, new format, same demands

The summer rebuild has been aggressive, and Nunes has welcomed the influx.

“It is incredible that they brought in. They were the best players at the other teams. It is just the way it is, players go and players come in. We have to help them settle. They are very happy to be here.”

On the deal for Enzo Fernandez, he added: “We as players don’t know, we want to have the best players and Enzo is one of them. We were very happy. When a new player comes in, they did an amazing job with the transfer window.”

Maresca, meanwhile, brushed aside talk of transfer spending and pressure.

“When you are City, the expectation is higher. I like to be focused on day by day. For me, the most important thing is for me to see that we are improving.”

The Champions League itself has changed, with a new format to navigate, but City’s target has not moved an inch.

“It’s always special, a nice competition, we need to adapt. It is a different competition but the ambition is still the same,” Maresca said.

Nunes knows how brutal it can be.

“Every year is different. The Champions League is the most difficult tournament, especially in the knockouts. You don’t play well, you are out. In the Premier League, you can come back. We want to win every season. This year will be no different.”

Cherki between the lines, City between eras

One of the more intriguing tactical notes from Maresca centred on Rayan Cherki, whose positioning has already become a key part of City’s structure.

“There is always a game plan and when we are in our side, Rayan drops a little to manage the tempo. When we are in the opposite side, we need him higher. He is dangerous with the last pass,” Maresca explained.

“Against Coventry, when we were in our side, it was good to drop a little bit. He gives us quality. Second goal against Bournemouth, he is in the right position. He is doing fantastic with us. I also think Phil can do that last pass between the lines. We are very lucky.”

It is a reminder that while the names remain familiar – Haaland, Phil Foden, the core of a Treble-winning squad – this is a City side quietly shifting shape under a new voice.

Maresca was part of the Treble season staff and has his own Champions League history from his Chelsea days. He knows the terrain. He also knows that at a club like this, the bar never lowers.

Porto will test the new rhythm, the new roles, the new energy. The only real question is whether City can turn that noise into another long European march.