Maresca cites lack of pre-season prep for City's Community Shield loss to Arsenal

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca pointed to insufficient pre-season preparation as the primary reason for his team's Community Shield defeat against Arsenal. The team fielded four players who had not participated in any pre-season matches, a stark contrast to Arsenal's squad, all of whom had logged minutes before the game.

Maresca explained that this lack of competitive minutes significantly hampered City's ability to find their rhythm. Arsenal seized an early advantage, scoring within 24 seconds and controlling large portions of the match to secure a 3-0 victory. The manager emphasized that starting a high-intensity competitive fixture without adequate preparation affected the team's cohesion.

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We started with four players in the starting XI who did not play one minute in pre-season, while at Arsenal, all 11 players had played minutes before the game.

"The physical condition was completely different between us and them," Maresca stated, highlighting the disparity in match fitness. The Community Shield served as a clear reminder for City of the crucial role that match readiness and team familiarity play at the commencement of a new season.

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The physical condition was completely different between us and them.