Haaland urges patience with Maresca after Manchester City’s 4-1 win at Selhurst Park

Erling Haaland urged Manchester City to give new manager Enzo Maresca time on August 29, 2026 after City beat Crystal Palace 4-1 in a Premier League match at Selhurst Park. The victory left City with maximum points from their opening two league games.

Maresca is in his first season as manager and his ideas are beginning to show, according to the club’s players, despite an uneven start to the campaign. City had lost to Arsenal in the Community Shield before responding with consecutive league wins, with Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland each scoring twice at Selhurst Park. The squad is being reshaped and the manager is integrating players who joined at different stages of their summers.

Haaland said the squad must continue to work out formations and roles on the pitch, adding: "We have to keep on playing together and find out where we are best and how to play," and "We have so many good players and we have to fit everyone in. We have to keep going."

On the timing of preparation, Haaland pointed to Cherki's irregular pre-season, saying: "I think in the start of the season, it was barely pre-season for everyone. Rayan just five weeks ago was playing in the World Cup, so it's a step up and we take it game by game." He also praised a teammate's display: "It's a right step in the right direction from everyone. Elliot was incredible. We have to build on this," Haaland added.

Palace began the match strongly but City went ahead through Haaland's 17th-minute header. An unfortunate Gianluigi Donnarumma own goal briefly brought Palace level before Cherki scored twice in a five-minute spell to put City in control, and Haaland completed the scoring in the 85th minute, continuing his strong start while giving Maresca another glimpse of the attacking depth at his disposal.

Maresca acknowledged a difficult opening spell but welcomed City's eventual control of the game, saying: "After 10 minutes we controlled the game on the ball and off the ball and deserved to win." He said the team deserved the result after their period of dominance.

City's next fixture is against Coventry City at the Etihad on September 5, followed by a trip to Old Trafford for the Manchester derby on September 13; their early-season programme also includes a Carabao Cup tie with Norwich City and the start of their Champions League campaign.