Maresca sees Bouaddi as a player who can raise his teammates’ level

“Cut from the cloth of the greats”: that is how Maresca described the impression Bouaddi has made. After the match against Ipswich, the Moroccan midfielder also made his mark on the pitch, at a time when his role at Manchester City could grow.

Against Ipswich, Bouaddi touched the ball 92 times, won seven duels and completed seven passes that broke through the opposition lines. He contributed to Manchester City’s performance in the match. Afterward, the player said: “It was great, I’m very happy that we won the match. Of course, everything seems to be going well. It was a very difficult contest against a strong team like Ipswich, who put us under pressure in the second half, but we got the win and we’re very happy.”

The appearance comes as Bouaddi could be in line for more responsibility. Enzo Maresca had indicated that the midfielder would get more opportunities to play after his performance against Paris Saint-Germain, where he came on at the start of the second half in place of Rayan Cherki. His outing against Paris Saint-Germain could also improve his chances of securing a bigger role. His recruitment was part of a long-term plan to compensate for Rodri’s departure during the summer.

The 19-year-old Moroccan had joined Manchester City from Lille last summer for 85 million pounds. Since his move, he had started only two matches, while Maresca had relied on Elliot Anderson and Fernandez for most of the season’s games.

Maresca explained what stands out to him about Bouaddi: “Ayoub is a great player, first and foremost. And what is good about him is that when he is on the pitch, he also helps the players around him improve, and that is a trait of great players.” The coach believes the Moroccan midfielder’s teammates can raise their own level alongside him.

Bouaddi, meanwhile, stressed the need for patience after his first league start: “I love playing and I want to be involved in every match, but I understand that this is part of the development process.” He also praised his Manchester City teammates, saying their level makes the game easier and that sharing the pitch with them is an honour. On the pressure against Ipswich, he said the team had managed it well. Maresca has praised Bouaddi’s influence, while the player has highlighted the collective effort and the value of progressing step by step.