Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca has disclosed that former manager Pep Guardiola offered a positive assessment of the team after their 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the UEFA Champions League.

Guardiola attended Wednesday’s encounter at the Etihad Stadium, marking his return to the club he led to multiple domestic and European honours before his departure.

Speaking after the match, Maresca said he met Guardiola and discussed the game, including City’s contrasting performances in the first and second halves.

According to the Italian coach, Guardiola was pleased to be back at the stadium and expressed positive views about aspects of the performance, despite the disappointing result.

Maresca said the occasion was also significant for supporters, who welcomed the former manager back to the ground.

City suffered a difficult opening period against the reigning European champions, conceding three goals before half-time as PSG capitalised on defensive lapses and attacking opportunities.

Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé scored in quick succession before Vitinha extended the visitors’ advantage, leaving the hosts with a substantial deficit at the interval.

City responded after the break, with Erling Haaland scoring twice to revive hopes of a comeback. However, Maghnes Akliouche restored PSG’s two-goal cushion, and the visitors held on to secure the victory.

Reflecting on the defeat, Maresca said his side lost its tactical balance after conceding twice within a short period, allowing PSG to exploit spaces between players.

He maintained, however, that City created enough opportunities in the second half to make the contest more competitive and said the team could learn from the experience.

The coach also insisted that City remained capable of competing with Europe’s leading sides, despite the setback against PSG.

Guardiola’s visit came amid a challenging period for Manchester City, following an independent commission’s findings on breaches of Premier League financial regulations. The club has denied wrongdoing and appealed the ruling.

Maresca said the external scrutiny had brought the players, supporters and club closer together, adding that his priority remained preparing the team for upcoming fixtures.

City will now turn their attention to domestic competition as they seek to recover from the European defeat and maintain their strong start to the Premier League season.

Maresca’s account of his conversation with Guardiola highlights the continued relationship between the two coaches, who previously worked together during City’s successful period under the Spaniard.