Enzo Maresca reveals Erling Haaland is at the heart of his Manchester City project

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has made it clear that keeping Erling Haaland happy is one of the biggest priorities of his project at the Etihad Stadium.

Maresca made the comments after securing his first Manchester derby victory as City manager, with Haaland scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The victory gave Maresca a perfect start to one of the biggest fixtures in English football after taking over from Pep Guardiola during the summer.

Maresca puts Haaland at the centre of his plans

Maresca is still putting his ideas into practice at Manchester City, but one thing appears certain: Haaland will remain central to the way he wants his team to play.

Speaking after the derby, the 46-year-old used a popular phrase to explain just how important the Norwegian striker is to his plans.

“How do you say in English? Happy wife, happy life?” Maresca joked.

“For us, happy Erling, happy life. My wife will be upset with me for that one.”

The light-hearted comment underlined the manager’s belief that getting the best out of Haaland will be crucial to Manchester City’s success under his leadership.

Haaland decides Manchester derby

Haaland then backed up his manager’s words on the pitch.

The striker scored the decisive goal in the 60th minute to give City a 1-0 victory over their neighbours.

The goal came after a controversial incident involving teammate Enzo Fernández inside the Manchester United penalty area, but Haaland ultimately provided the difference between the two sides.

The victory was particularly significant for City, as it marked their first away Manchester derby win at Old Trafford since 2022.

Haaland continues prolific start to season

Haaland’s derby-winning goal also continued his impressive start to the 2026-27 campaign.

The Norway international had entered the match in excellent form after scoring twice in the second half of Manchester City’s Champions League victory over Porto on September 8.

That brace took his Champions League tally to 59 goals in 59 appearances, underlining his remarkable scoring record in Europe.

The striker’s long-term future at Manchester City also appears secure.

Haaland signed a 10-year contract extension in January 2025 that keeps him at the club until June 2034.

With the striker committed to the club for the long term and Maresca making him a central figure in his plans, City will be hoping their partnership can usher in another successful era at the Etihad.