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Man City's director of football Hugo Viana says the club are very happy with their summer transfer window business.

Director of football happy with summer transfer window

Man City's director of football Hugo Viana says the club are very happy with their summer transfer window business.

The club signed players like Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez for big money, while also seeing departures from Rodri and Bernardo Silva among others.

In an interview with the club's official media, Viana said:

> “I think we were cool and we are happy with the window.

> "It was a different summer because a new manager came in, new faces, a World Cup. Everything was a little bit later than normal, but it was important to stay calm and stick to our plan and be patient.

> "We had a look at some really good options for the positions we wanted to bring in new players. When your coach is happy, you should be happy too.

> "We are truly happy with the window and we all believe that we bought the players that fit for Enzo’s style of playing. We also managed very well the outgoings.

> "We can speak good things about our transfer window now and it was really busy, but we have to wait. We have to give time to the new players and new coach to implement his ideas. The players have to understand, be ready and know how Enzo wants to play.”

When asked whether the squad is in a better place now than before the window, Viana added:

> “Maybe it’s not fair to say we are in a better place than before the window because we had a lot of quality already, but we have a really young squad.

> "We brought the players that we all believe will be important this season and for the next three, four, five years. We bought players with experience in the Premier League and we bought players like Bouaddi that we believe will be important in the future but this year also. He’s still 18, we cannot forget that.

> "It’s important for them to understand that we want to keep them for the next years. If we can, we want to win but at least we will compete very seriously in all competitions.”

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Viana: Maresca has settled well at Man City

Man City's director of football Hugo Viana says Enzo Maresca - although not a new face at the club - has settled well as he looks to follow up a legacy left by Pep Guardiola.

The Italian was appointed as Guardioa's successor this summer and has made a winning start to the Premier League season.

Asked about their relationship, Viana said in an interview with the club's official media:

> “Enzo knew the club already. He worked for Manchester City before. He was not a new face in the building.

> "He has settled really well but he’s also brought his new ideas and own way [of] doing things. It’s a different approach of course. We lost Pep, a legend of the club, but Enzo is doing really well.

> "We are building a really strong relationship. It’s a big challenge for me, him and all of us but we have the same ambition to keep Manchester City competing to the highest level and we’re all confident.”

Maresca: Focus on 'unbelievable' City performance, not VAR error

Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca wants focus on his team's "unbelievable" performance in the Premier League derby win at Manchester United, rather than VAR controversy around Erling Haaland's winner.

Referee governing body Pro Ref has apologised to United for an error by the officials which allowed Haaland's goal to stand in Sunday's match, when Enzo Fernandez should have been deemed offside.

However, City secured the 1-0 win despite having Phil Foden sent off after 23 minutes and Maresca feels that achievement has been lost amid the focus on the officials.

> "I'm pleased with the unbelievable performance of the players in Sunday's game. I'm very pleased with that," he said in a press conference.

> "Talking about one episode or moment after that game, when we played for 70-75 minutes with 10 players is quite - not the right word probably - quite poor.

> "The performance was unbelievable."

Maresca was previously at City when United benefitted from a similar incident in a derby involving Marcus Rashford for a Bruno Fernandes goal.

> "I think sometimes it goes for you, sometimes against you.

> "Three years ago when I was here, it happened exactly the same against Man Utd. We lost the derby there, the goal was not a regular goal, and no one apologised. We're still waiting for the apology for that goal.

> "It's football."

Maresca also said he had sympathy for the officials working under pressure and pointed out they will make mistakes.

> "It's not easy for the VAR, for the people in front of the screen, and in 10 seconds, 20 seconds they have to make a decision," he said.

> "It's not easy. Sometimes they make some mistake. I make mistakes. Players make mistakes. It's part of our job.

> "It's complicated also for them."

Maresca: It's not easy for VAR - we all make mistakes

Man City manager Enzo Maresca:

> "It's not easy for the VAR for the people in front of the screen and in 10 seconds, 20 seconds they have to make a decision. It's not easy. Sometimes they make some mistake. I make mistakes. Players make mistakes. It's part of our job.

> "It's complicated also for them."

Maresca on young City players being involved vs Norwich

Man City manager Enzo Maresca on Ryan McAidoo, Kaden Braithwaite and Floyd Samba:

> "These three players work with us regularly every day, unless sometimes they go with the second team, EDS, because they need to get minutes, they need to play.

> "They're going to be involved all of them in tomorrow's game. I'm not saying from the beginning but they're going to be with us.

> "Then we see if we need some more players."

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Man City manager Enzo Maresca:

> "Jeremy is quite close. We're happy."

Maresca on Foden's suspension

Man City manager Enzo Maresca:

> "Especially at half-time he was very sad, very upset because he knew it was something wrong. Then after the game it was a little more relieved, a little more happy.

> "He knows the reaction was not a good one but it's finished and we move on."

How big a blow is it to lose Foden to suspension?

> "For us it's a big one. He was doing well with us. I also think he started quite good for the minutes he was inside the pitch but now he's out for tomorrow, Sunderland and Liverpool and then back again."

Will Man City appeal Foden's red card?

Man City manager Enzo Maresca:

> "We didn't speak about it. We'll see. I don't know."

Maresca to use Norwich game to get fringe players up to speed

Man City manager Enzo Maresca:

> "For sure we want to make some changes. I don't know how many.

> "The ones that are going to play, I'm sure at some point in the season, they are going to play important game, Premier League, Champions League.

> "Now it's early season, no suspended, no injured players. But in November, December, January, February, with the amount of games and injuries we need to rest so the players that are going to play tomorrow for them it's also an opportunity to get better and better because at some point we need them in different competitions."

Maresca wants focus on City's 'unbelievable' performance on Sunday

Man City manager Enzo Maresca:

> "I'm pleased with the unbelievable performance of the players in Sunday's game. I'm very pleased with that. Talking about one episode or moment after that game, when we played for 70-75 minutes with 10 players is quite - not the right word probably - quite poor.

> "The performance was unbelievable. Then tomorrow night is another competition. The ambition is still the same. There is not VAR but we don't plan the game in a different way."

Maresca on VAR error which allowed Haaland derby winner to stand

Man City manager Enzo Maresca:

> "I think sometimes it goes for you, sometimes against you.

> "Three years ago when I was here, it happened exactly the same against Man Utd. We lost the derby there, the goal was not a regular goal, and no one apologised. We're still waiting for the apology for that goal.

> "It's football."

Maresca set to speak ahead of Norwich cup tie

Man City boss Enzo Maresca faces the media from 10.30am today, where he will look ahead to Thursday's Carabao Cup third-round tie against Norwich.

City kick off their title defence at the Etihad and we'll get the lowdown from Maresca on that clash and his team news for it.

Plus we'll get his reflections on that Manchester derby win and the refereeing calls around Erling Haaland's winner and Phil Foden's red card.

Donnarumma: Man City are not in transition, it's going to be a great season

Man City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma speaks exclusively to Sky Sports' Sam Blitz about the club's faultless start to the campaign.

After a summer of change, City have started on fire.

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'No one is hurting more than VAR' | Is an apology justice for Haaland goal error?

Webb: VAR had 'tunnel vision' on Haaland which led to Enzo error

Pro Ref chief Howard Webb says VAR missed Enzo Fernandez being offside for Erling Haaland's winning goal in the Manchester derby due to "tunnel vision".

Full story:

Pro Ref chief Howard Webb admits VAR had 'tunnel vision' on Erling Haaland leading to Enzo Fernandez error

Webb: Foden red justified but Fernandes escaped yellow for 'petulant' kick

Pro Ref chief Howard Webb has backed the decision to send off Phil Foden in the Manchester derby but revealed VAR could not intervene to caution Bruno Fernandes for the "petulant" kick that sparked the altercation.

Full story:

Pro Ref chief Howard Webb agrees with Phil Foden red card in Manchester derby but admits Bruno Fernandes should have been booked

Donnarumma: Derby win was sublime but Foden red was harsh

Gianluigi Donnarumma described Manchester City’s performance in Sunday’s derby victory over Manchester United as “sublime” while insisting Phil Foden’s red card was harsh.

Erling Haaland’s winning goal has been the subject of controversy after refereeing body Pro Ref admitted there was an error in the VAR process which led to the goal being allowed to stand.

Asked about the incident, Donnarumma said:

> “I don't know. I just enjoy the win. I loved my team-mates' performance; it was sublime.

> “The red card was harsh. Really harsh. You have to ask questions about the sending off if you're asking questions about the goal. But that's part of football; it's part of the game.

> “But I'm really happy with the performance of my team, of the capacity to stay in the game and to react to difficult moments. No one can take that away from us.

> “This is who we are. This is our team. This is City.”

Donnarumma also called on City to build on the derby victory as they look to compete for major honours this season.

> “We need to keep going like this,” he added. “We have to move forward with confidence, keep our heads down and work hard, because every match is tough.

> “If we want to compete for major goals, we have to work hard - and I'm sure we will because we have a fantastic coach in Enzo Maresca.

> “We will give everything for this shirt, for this club that gives us so much and offers us so much great support. It has a great history, and we need to give a lot back to it.”

Haaland hails 'monster' Donnarumma

Erling Haaland has described Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma as a “monster” after his stoppage-time save preserved Sunday’s controversial derby win over rivals Manchester United.

City overcame Phil Foden’s disputed first-half dismissal to win via Haaland’s 60th-minute strike – a goal allowed following a lengthy VAR check, which the Premier League refereeing body Pro Ref later admitted was an “error of judgement”.

Haaland’s goal was the the 26-year-old’s ninth in a Premier League Manchester derby fixture – one more than Sergio Aguero and Wayne Rooney.

Foden saw red in the 23rd minute for reacting to an apparent kick from United skipper Bruno Fernandes, but even with the extra man the hosts laboured to break down a determined City rear-guard.

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