“It’s not easy”: Maresca agrees with Haaland that players began the season tired

Enzo Maresca said it was difficult for Manchester City’s World Cup players to find their form early in the season. Speaking before the Champions League opener at Porto, the coach agreed with Erling Haaland’s assessment that many players had started tired.

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I think it’s correct that you see these kind of players that they start to be tired.

“It’s not easy for them. It’s not easy for Erling, it’s not easy for most of the players that they continue to play for their international team,” Maresca said at the Dragao Stadium.

Haaland, speaking on his YouTube channel, said Norway’s run to the World Cup quarterfinals meant he did not play warm-up matches and had no normal preseason. He has scored three goals in three league matches, but said the physical side of the season would take time and that players also needed to remain mentally sharp.

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It’s not easy for them. It’s not easy for Erling, it’s not easy for most of the players that they continue to play for their international team.

“The new season started and I didn’t even have a pre-season. I normally have a bit of pre-season but this time, just nothing,” Haaland said. He added that the longer season and constant schedule left little time to step away from football. He said he was not complaining because playing throughout the year remained positive, but added that players sometimes needed a break.

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The new season started and I didn’t even have a pre-season. I normally have a bit of pre-season but this time, just nothing.

Maresca said rest could involve missing one match or taking a week away, depending on the circumstances. He cautioned against focusing too far ahead on expectations for February, March or April, saying the priority was to improve with every game.

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But sometimes we need a break as well.