Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca believes his side are closing the gap on Europe's elite despite suffering a 4-2 Champions League defeat against Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad Stadium.
The reigning European champions raced into a 3-0 first-half lead before Erling Haaland scored twice after the break to give City hope of a comeback.
Although PSG ultimately secured victory, Maresca insisted his team's second-half performance demonstrated their ability to compete with the continent's strongest opponents.
Maresca believes Manchester City can match PSG
City were punished by a devastating first-half spell in which PSG scored twice within two minutes, leaving the hosts facing a difficult recovery.
Maresca acknowledged that the defensive collapse proved decisive but felt his players deserved more from their response.
"I think we are there, my feeling is we are close," the Italian told reporters.
"It has been a bit of a strange game especially because we conceded two goals in two minutes [in the first half] and that created some problems for us."
City registered 27 shots during the match, with Haaland's second-half brace putting PSG under sustained pressure.
"In the second half we did enough to deserve something more," Maresca added.
Luis Enrique reaction highlights City's second-half improvement
Maresca also revealed that PSG manager Luis Enrique acknowledged how difficult the closing stages had become for his team.
"Luis told me at the end they have been quite lucky," the City boss said.
Despite the defeat, Maresca praised PSG's European pedigree, describing them as the continent's outstanding side over the previous two seasons.
The result nevertheless exposed City's vulnerability during defensive transitions, with their attacking improvement unable to compensate for conceding three times before half-time.
Key Points
- Manchester City lost 4-2 to PSG in the Champions League.
- Enzo Maresca believes City are close to matching Europe's strongest teams.
- Erling Haaland scored twice as City registered 27 attempts.
- PSG established a 3-0 first-half advantage.
- Maresca claimed Luis Enrique admitted PSG had been fortunate to win.
What’s Next?
Manchester City return to Premier League action against Ipswich Town on Saturday before facing AEK in their next Champions League fixture.
Maresca will be looking for a more disciplined defensive performance while maintaining the attacking intensity shown against PSG.
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