"We need the perfect game because they are the best team in Europe in this moment." Enzo Maresca set the tone ahead of Manchester City's meeting with Paris Saint Germain, with Pep Guardiola due back at the Etihad for the first time since his departure. City arrive on eight successive wins across all competitions, and the mood around the club is calm rather than noisy.

Guardiola's return and City's mood

Maresca said Guardiola's return is exciting for everyone, especially because the Etihad was his house for 10 years. He also said he does not know Guardiola's plans for the day of the match, whether he will come straight to the stadium or to the training ground first.

The wider point from Maresca is that City do not feel distracted by what is being said around them. Speaking in Italian to Sky Sport Italia, he said, "We are absolutely calm." He added that the club have reassured the players and that they only worry about what they can control, the matches.

That calm has come with results. City beat Liverpool 3-0 on Sunday, and Maresca said the side have won eight games in a row, even if he still wants improvement in attack and defence.

PSG and the need for a perfect game

Maresca did not soften the size of the task. He said PSG are the best team in Europe in this moment and pointed to their last two Champions Leagues as proof of how strong they are. He also backed his own side to compete, saying that if City play their best they can beat them.

The numbers around the start to the competition back up the scale of the night. City have won their opening Champions League game, and PSG have done the same, so both sides arrive with perfect European starts. City also opened the League Phase with a 2-0 away win over Porto last month, which gives them a platform beyond the league results.

City's league form has been just as strong. They have won all six Premier League games so far and sit on 18 points, which is why Maresca can speak about control without sounding defensive. The challenge against PSG is still the bigger one, and his own words make that clear: the standard is not a routine home win, it is a perfect game on a night that carries extra weight because Guardiola is back.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →