If I don’t win it’s a disaster – Enzo Maresca stays cautious after flying start

Enzo Maresca is refusing to get carried away with Manchester City’s flying start to the season, acknowledging pressure could quickly mount if results turn.

City continued their fine run of form by brushing aside Championship Norwich 5-0 to reach the Carabao Cup fourth round on Thursday.

Since losing to Arsenal in the Community Shield, City have won their last six matches in all competitions – a fine start by Maresca after stepping into the void left by Pep Guardiola.

The City manager, whose side next face Sunderland on Sunday, said: “I’m really happy. I said in the first press conference, for me to be in this club is a privilege and to be in this club after a legend like Pep is a privilege.

“I know if I don’t win it’s a disaster, and it’s normal, but I don’t spend my day thinking who was here before and for how many years.

“I’m just here to focus on what we can do better, improve the team and trying to win games.

“I’m very happy with these five or six games in a row but now the main focus is just on the next one and I’m not thinking that we won six in a row because those games are finished. We focus on the next one and then we have the international break.”

City made 10 changes for the visit of the Canaries, who fielded a weakened side themselves.

Teenager Floyd Samba stole the show on his senior debut, scoring twice as he took the place of the rested Erling Haaland at centre-forward.

Samba also had a hand in a goal for Rayan Cherki while winger Allan Elias, signed from Palmeiras for £34million last month, also scored on his first appearance for the club.

A strong night for the City academy was capped when 18-year-old Ryan McAidoo came off the bench to add the fifth in the last minute.

In all there were seven City academy graduates on the field. Nico O’Reilly, Rico Lewis and Kaden Braithwaite also featured for the hosts, while Dan Grimshaw and Jacob Wright were in the Norwich side.

Maresca said: “We have different competitions. We have many games and we are just at the beginning of the season.

“The ones that played are going to play Premier League or Champions League games because the season is long.

“It was very important we gave rest to the ones that played back-to-back 90 minutes against Porto and (Manchester) United. Hopefully they can be full of energy for Sunday’s game that will be a strong game.”

Samba, the son of former Blackburn defender Christopher, regularly plays as a midfielder but his performance up front offers another potential option.

Haaland is the only out-and-out striker in the first-team squad and, although he is one of the first names on the teamsheet, there will be occasions when alternatives are needed.

Maresca said: “We have Antoine (Semenyo) there, we can use Phil (Foden) and Rayan Cherki as a false nine. It depends on the gameplan.

“But Floyd played here, he was good and hopefully we can give him more chances.”