# Enzo Maresca Addresses Manchester City's Recent Premier League Struggles Manager cites lack of intensity as City suffers third consecutive league defeat. - **Source:** [Asharq Al-Awsat](https://aawsat.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-07 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/6397bcb3-b860-434f-b710-8622972f96fe ## City's Unexpected Defeat Manchester City suffered a disappointing 3-1 loss against Nottingham Forest this past Saturday. This result marks the team's third consecutive defeat in the Premier League, leaving them with 21 points. They currently sit in second place, trailing the defending champions Arsenal, who have accumulated 27 points in the standings. ## Maresca Identifies Tactical Issues Manager Enzo Maresca attributed the loss primarily to a lack of intensity during the first half. He noted that his players failed to win crucial duels, which proved decisive against their opponents. Maresca emphasized that this specific lack of sharpness was unprecedented for his squad during the initial forty-five minutes. ## Defensive Vulnerabilities Exposed The team conceded goals due to their tactical commitment to building play from the back. Two of the three goals resulted from counter-attacks following lost individual duels in midfield. Maresca acknowledged that the current defensive setup is allowing too many goals, necessitating immediate tactical adjustments to improve their overall stability. ## Managing Team Morale Despite the string of losses, Maresca maintains a balanced perspective on the situation. He expressed concern regarding the recent performance dip but insisted there is no need for panic. The team previously enjoyed a streak of seven consecutive victories, which provides a foundation for confidence as they look to recover. ## Utilizing the International Break The upcoming international break serves as a critical period for the coaching staff to analyze these failures. Maresca intends to use this time to understand the root causes of the team's recent defensive lapses. The goal is to implement necessary changes to prevent similar scenarios from recurring in future league fixtures. ## Broader European Football Context While City struggles, other European giants continue their campaigns. Real Madrid recently secured a 3-0 victory over Valencia, moving to 30 points in La Liga. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain maintained their momentum with a narrow 1-0 win against Troyes, extending their winning streak to eleven matches across all local and continental competitions. ## Player Development and Future Beyond the current results, the club is managing various player situations. Maresca remains confident that goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma will regain his top form soon. Additionally, Jeremy Doku is set to rejoin the Belgian national team for their upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Turkey and Italy to maintain his competitive match fitness. ## Long-term Club Outlook The club faces significant scrutiny as five Premier League officials are expected to play a pivotal role in determining Manchester City's future following allegations of rule violations. As the team navigates these off-field pressures alongside their current on-field slump, the focus remains on stabilizing performance to remain competitive for the title. ## Sources covering this story - https://aawsat.com/node/5338760 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._