Maresca's dream start turns into nightmare as title hopes hit

What the report says

Enzo Maresca’s early momentum as Manchester City manager has stalled after a third straight Premier League defeat, with City losing 3-1 at Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. BBC Sport reported that Forest took control early through Jair Cunha’s sixth-minute opener, after a defensive mistake from Josko Gvardiol, and later added two more goals as City’s back line again struggled with errors and transitions. Rayan Cherki scored a fine goal for City, but it was not enough to change the outcome.

The result leaves City six points behind Arsenal, who also won on Saturday, and raises concerns over their title challenge heading into the international break. BBC Sport noted that City started the season with seven consecutive wins before losing their next three, a rare pattern in top-flight history. The report also pointed out that only two teams have ever been as far back at this stage and still gone on to win the league, adding to the significance of City’s recent slump.

Maresca said his team lacked intensity in the first half and did not compete well in duels or second balls. He said City tried to respond after going 2-0 down but were already in a difficult position. The BBC’s coverage also highlighted wider uncertainty around the club, including an ongoing appeal over alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules, though any possible consequences remain unresolved. The immediate focus, however, is on City’s defensive problems and how quickly Maresca can steady the side after this setback.