Nottingham:Manchester Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has denied accusations that his tactics and team selection left gaps vulnerable to attack after the Citizens suffered their third consecutive Premier League defeat, a 3-1 loss away to Nottingham Forest.

According to Thai News Agency, despite winning seven consecutive matches at the start of the season, Manchester City's recent form has seen them fall six points behind league leaders Arsenal. Maresca expressed strong dissatisfaction with his team's performance in the first half, noting that serious individual errors led to them falling 0-2 behind within the first 19 minutes and their inability to fully recover. While the Italian manager didn't want to blame individual players, he also refused to accept criticism of the team's overall tactical approach.

When pressed about whether the team's setup placed too much burden on Elliott Anderson in midfield, Maresca responded by emphasizing that their failure to regain possession, particularly during counter-attacks, was the primary issue. He reiterated that losing possession in crucial moments and failing to win duels were the main reasons for the conceded goals, rather than any tactical errors.

Maresca highlighted that the second and third goals were conceded in similar fashion, with the team losing crucial duels both in midfield and just outside the penalty area. He acknowledged that the team's lack of intensity in the first half led to a deficit that was difficult to overcome, despite improved performance and a goal in the second half.

The Manchester City manager concluded by noting that the team's attempt to react after conceding two goals was a significant mistake, as it was often too late to recover in such situations.