Maresca urged players to seize the opportunity to improve.

Manchester City, nicknamed "The Blue Moon," will face Norwich City, nicknamed "The Canaries," from the Championship, in a key third-round match of the 2026/27 EFL Cup at the Etihad Stadium. Manager Maresca stated in a press conference that players must seize every opportunity to continue striving for improvement as long as they are on the pitch.

Manchester City secured a 1-0 victory over their city rivals Manchester United in the earlier Premier League derby, thanks to a goal from Haaland, and maintained their winning streak.

Manchester City manager Maresca said, "We will certainly make some adjustments. I don't know exactly how many players will be rotated, but there are many reasons. I believe that the players who play tomorrow will get opportunities at some point in the season and play a role in important Premier League and Champions League matches. It's still early in the season, and there aren't many suspensions or injuries."

"But as we move into November, December, January, and February, with the increase in the number of matches and the emergence of injuries, some players will need to rest. Therefore, for the players who will play tomorrow, this is undoubtedly an opportunity for them to continue to improve. At some point, we will definitely need them in important matches and different competitions."

Speaking about the challenges of cup competitions, Maresca said, "These matches are always difficult to play, and each game is challenging in itself. We must perform in the right way, just as we have always strived for. There is no doubt that this will be a tricky match."

“This is another event we're involved in, and we need to remain competitive in all of them. We'll do our best and then see how far we can go.”

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