‘It’s not good for us’ – Maresca on Semenyo injury

Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca says Antoine Semenyo’s injury is a blow to the club, with the Ghanaian forward expected to miss eight weeks of action with a knee problem.

The 26-year-old sustained the injury during City’s 3-2 Premier League victory over Ipswich Town on Saturday, having come on as a substitute in the closing stages of the match.

Semenyo replaced Jeremy Doku in the 77th minute but is now set for an extended spell on the sidelines, disrupting his involvement in a campaign in which he has made an encouraging start.

The Ghana international has scored two goals and provided three assists in nine appearances across all competitions in the 2026/27 season.

Speaking before Manchester City’s UEFA Champions League meeting with AEK Athens, Maresca acknowledged the impact of losing Semenyo but said the club would look at other attacking options to cope with his absence.

“First of all, to lose Antoine or any player for us is not good,” Maresca said.

Semenyo’s versatility had made him a potential alternative to Erling Haaland in the centre-forward position, allowing the Norwegian striker an opportunity to rest during a demanding schedule.

His absence means City will have to consider other ways of managing Haaland’s workload while maintaining their strong start to the season.

Maresca, however, indicated that the club had several players who could be considered as alternatives in attack, although he stopped short of naming a preferred replacement.

“In terms of Erling, we said we can use Antoine as a nine but we have different players that we are going to try to find a new solution. We will see.

“At the moment it’s Erling. Why do we need to think about a different nine when Erling is there? If something happens and we need a different plan or different nine, we will see.”

The comments suggest Haaland remains City’s first choice to lead the attack, with the coaching staff prepared to assess their options if circumstances require a change.

Semenyo had offered City another option in the forward line, particularly as the team looked to balance the demands of domestic and European football. His contribution of five goal involvements in nine appearances had also underlined his early influence.

The injury therefore presents a challenge for Maresca as Manchester City prepare for their Champions League fixture against AEK Athens and continue their Premier League campaign.

Although the manager expressed disappointment at losing the Ghanaian, his remarks indicated that the club would seek an internal solution rather than immediately committing to a specific replacement.

For now, Haaland is expected to remain the focal point of City’s attack, while the team evaluates which players can provide cover during Semenyo’s anticipated eight-week absence.