Erling Haaland and Enzo Maresca Praise Ayyoub Bouaddi After Stellar Display in Porto

Manchester City secured a 2-0 victory over Porto at the Estadio do Dragao, with teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi impressing on his first full start. Both Erling Haaland and manager Enzo Maresca expressed admiration for the 18-year-old’s calm and commanding midfield performance.

Bouaddi Shines on His Full Debut

The match marked the beginning of City's Champions League group stage campaign. Besides Haaland’s two second-half goals, it was Bouaddi who stood out in midfield. The young talent completed 54 of 55 passes and made seven ball recoveries before being substituted by Mateo Kovacic in the 76th minute. His composed control helped dictate the game's rhythm.

Maresca Highlights Team Effort and Bouaddi’s Calmness

After the game, Maresca praised the squad's overall performance and depth, saying on Amazon Prime, "I think we could have scored more goals, especially in the first half, but overall we deserved to win. We created enough chances and didn’t concede much. It’s normal to face some threats here, so I’m happy with how the team played." He also singled out Bouaddi, noting, "From experienced players like Erling, Ruben Dias, Mateo Kovacic, you expect game management, but Ayyoub Bouaddi was never panicked. His performance was unbelievable."

Haaland Calls Bouaddi a ‘Gem’ with a Playful Critique

Playing alongside Enzo Fernandez, Bouaddi had already earned praise during training sessions. Haaland shared his thoughts, saying, "He played a very good game. In training these past weeks, I told the chairman he has been amazing. We have a gem here. But honestly, I think he should have passed me through in the second half when I was all alone. I was a bit angry, so I’ll tell him now: great game, except for that pass."

Next Challenge: Manchester Derby

This victory keeps Manchester City unbeaten with four wins across all competitions this season. Their resilience will be tested in the upcoming Premier League clash against city rivals Manchester United. Bouaddi’s strong midfield showing boosts his chances to feature regularly during the busy autumn schedule.

Upcoming Fixtures:

• 12 Sept 2026, 19:00: FC Porto vs Casa Pia (Liga Portugal)
• 13 Sept 2026, 17:30: Manchester United vs Manchester City (Premier League)