Enzo Maresca and Erling Haaland discuss player fatigue before Champions League opener

Manchester City coach Enzo Maresca expressed sympathy for players struggling with physical and mental fatigue ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League match against Porto. Maresca’s comments followed recent remarks from striker Erling Haaland, who cited the lack of a proper pre-season and a congested schedule following the World Cup. Haaland noted that the absence of a break between seasons makes maintaining sharpness difficult, though he emphasized he is not complaining about his professional circumstances. Maresca acknowledged that managing player workloads is complicated by international duties and that the team must prioritize game-by-game improvement over long-term projections. He suggested that rotating players, such as leaving them out of matchday squads, remains an option to help them recover. The City squad is currently preparing for the match at the Dragao Stadium as they look to build momentum early in the season.

• 9:19 PMYahoo Sports — Maresca agrees with Haaland that players started season jaded