Semenyo sheds light on Maresca's response to chaotic City win - 'not so happy'

Rayan Cherki then put City ahead but, again, Brobbey was quick to equalise. Semenyo scored his first of the afternoon on the stroke of half time and added a second after the interval to put City in control. However, Brobbey completed his hat trick to once more put the Blues under the cosh.

Eventually, City managed to put Sunderland to bed as Erling Haaland added the fifth, and ensured they are three points clear at the top of the Premier League, heading into the international break. Collecting his man of the match award at full time, Semenyo shed some light on how Maresca responded to the chaotic victory.

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To get it, it's a simple one-two punch.

"He wasn't so happy," Semenyo told Sky Sports. "I feel like we needed to win our duels. That was the key thing for the game, if we won our duels we knew we would score. In the second half, that changed. We won more duels and we got our goals."

Before the game, Maresca insisted that Sunderland would be City's toughest opponent yet and Semenyo agreed with that after the contest. "Yeah, he's not wrong," the forward added. "He's obviously watched their games previous before our game and they've made it tough for every team they have played so far.

"We knew that it was going to be a tough one today and we are just happy with the three points."

Maresca was then asked if he was unhappy with City's performance. He explained post-match that while he much prefers to win games 1-0, he was still pleased with the result for his team.

"Don't confuse me," he insisted on Sky Sports. "I'm happy with the performance, I didn't say I am not happy with today's performance. I'm happy with today's performance because we found a way to win the game.

"But again, hopefully next time it will be easier and we don't concede three."