Enzo Maresca ‘didn’t see nothing’ as players clash in Champions League win

Players from both sides were involved in scuffles as they headed down the tunnel at half-time of City’s niggly 2-0 victory at the Estadio do Dragao on Tuesday.

Porto had felt City’s Marc Guehi should have been sent off after catching Gabri Veiga with his arm as he jumped for a header.

That led to arguments on the field and tempers had not cooled by the time the half-time whistle blew.

There were reports of pushing between players and some footage appeared to show City captain Ruben Dias putting his hand on Porto coach Francesco Farioli’s chest.

City manager Maresca said he “didn’t see nothing” when asked about the Guehi incident and was already in the dressing room when the half-time incident unfolded.

“I had left the bench and then I was already inside,” he said.

Maresca did say he would “probably” speak to Dias if he later became aware of anything but added: “You can ask what you want but how many times did you see me or my bench, or the guys that work with me, stand up on the bench? Zero – for 95 minutes. How many times (did) you see their bench?”

Erling Haaland put aside the furore to head City in front after 47 minutes and put the result beyond doubt with a second in stoppage time.

Porto did come back into the game after Haaland’s opener and Maresca was pleased to come through a tricky encounter in difficult, rain-soaked conditions.

He said: “I think the performance was a complete performance on and off the ball for 95 minutes.

“Even in the first half, we created enough chances to win the game. The keeper was very good and then in the second half we just tried to continue in the same way and overall we deserved to win.”

Maresca felt his side coped well with the atmosphere and Porto’s physical approach.

He said: “We know in these kind of games when you come here it’s always difficult – the environment, the way they grew up. It’s normal but I think we dealt with that very good.”

Maresca also praised a mature performance from 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi on his full debut.

He said: “He is just 18 and is a fantastic player. He was very good.

“You expect it from Erling, Ruben, that they can manage these kind of games but you don’t expect it from a guy of 18. He was top. I didn’t see him panic in any moment.

“Congratulations to Ayyoub. This is why he’s here with us.”

Farioli also did not comment on the half-time controversy but did allude to the Guehi incident as he praised his team’s resolve.

He said: “We competed against one of the best teams in the world without five main players.

“Unfortunately the result was not what we wanted but the performance I have quite a good feeling about.

“The team overcame a lot of difficulties – five players out and this situation that could have changed the dynamic. We proved our DNA.”