Ayyoub Bouaddi celebrated a hard-fought 3-2 victory in his first Premier League start for City against Ipswich Town, an occasion made even more special as manager Enzo Maresca achieved a Premier League record.
City took the lead through Phil Foden after 19 minutes, only for Ipswich’s Daizen Maeda to equalise two minutes later. Erling Haaland struck either side of halftime to put City ahead, but a late penalty from Zian Flemming kept the contest tight until the final whistle. Maresca became the first manager in Premier League history to win all seven of their opening fixtures in charge of a club.
Bouaddi, a Moroccan teenager, earned his first start after three substitute appearances and an impressive display in a midweek loss to PSG. He was heavily involved throughout the game, registering 92 touches, winning seven ground duels, and playing seven line-breaking passes.
“It was really good. I’m really happy because we won the game,” Bouaddi said after the match. “It was a really tough game against a really good team in Ipswich. They put us in trouble in the second half. We won the game and we are really happy with that.”
The midfielder spoke about the pressure of starting for the first time in the Premier League but said he relished the experience. “Of course I was really happy. It’s football, I really like to play the game. I want to play every game. But I know it’s part of the process and I was really happy with the game today.”
Bouaddi also praised his teammates, saying it was easier to perform alongside experienced players who could manage the game even when passes were imperfect. “It’s easier to play even if sometimes you play a bad pass they can manage everything. They make it successful, so it is a huge honour to play with players like this.”
Foden’s goal was his first since December 2025. When asked about the England international’s return to scoring, Bouaddi declined to speak for him but was clear about the team’s mood. “I’m sure he’s really happy and we’re really happy he scored the goal. He’s a great player, important player for the team.”
Bouaddi emphasized the collective ambition within the squad. “Everyone is an important player and we all want to play well all of the time.”
City’s win extended their unbeaten run under Maresca to seven games, a run that has set a Premier League record for a manager’s first seven matches. The team will look to maintain that momentum as the season progresses, with Bouaddi’s debut start marking a promising step in the club’s campaign.
According to Yahoo Sports.
