Enzo Maresca secured his first victory as Manchester City manager as the Premier League champions defeated a K-League XI 3-0 in a pre-season friendly at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.
After losing on penalties to Inter Milan in Hong Kong, City responded with an assured display, with goals from Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders and Divin Mubama sealing the win.
Player Ratings
Stefan Ortega – 7/10
Had little to do for long periods but remained alert when called upon. Distributed the ball well from the back and looked composed throughout.
Rico Lewis – 8/10
Another intelligent display from the versatile youngster. Comfortable in possession, tucked into midfield effectively and linked play well going forward.
Ruben Dias – 7.5/10
Provided leadership at the heart of the defence. Strong in the air and rarely looked troubled by the hosts’ attacks.
Josko Gvardiol – 7/10
Calm and assured alongside Dias. Read the game well and helped City build attacks from deep.
Rayan Ait-Nouri – 8.5/10
One of City’s standout performers. Opened the scoring with a well-taken finish and constantly threatened down the left flank with his pace and attacking runs.
Rodri – 7.5/10
Controlled the tempo in midfield as expected. His positioning and passing kept City in command for much of the contest.
Tijjani Reijnders – 8.5/10
An excellent all-round performance. The Dutch midfielder covered plenty of ground, linked defence to attack brilliantly and capped his display with a deserved goal.
Phil Foden – 7.5/10
Looked sharp between the lines and created several openings. His movement caused problems throughout the match.
Rayan Cherki – 8/10
Displayed flashes of brilliance with clever dribbling and incisive passing. Continues to show why he is regarded as one of Europe’s most exciting young talents.
Antoine Semenyo – 8/10
A constant outlet on the wing. His direct running and physicality unsettled the K-League defence and he created several dangerous opportunities.
Divin Mubama – 8/10
Worked tirelessly up front and was rewarded with a goal. Pressed aggressively, held the ball up well and continues to impress during pre-season.
Substitutes
Oscar Bobb – 7/10
Injected fresh energy after coming on and looked lively whenever he was on the ball.
Ryan McAidoo – 7/10
Another encouraging cameo from the youngster, who used his pace to stretch the opposition defence.
Other substitutes – 6.5/10
Played their part in helping City comfortably see out the match without allowing the hosts back into the contest.
Manager: Enzo Maresca – 8/10
Maresca will be pleased with the response after the defeat to Inter Milan. His side controlled possession, created numerous chances and looked much more cohesive both in and out of possession. While sterner tests lie ahead, City showed encouraging signs that the players are adapting well to the Italian’s tactical ideas.
Verdict
Manchester City produced a confident and disciplined performance to earn Maresca his first victory as manager. New signings Rayan Ait-Nouri and Tijjani Reijnders both impressed on the scoresheet, while Divin Mubama continued his strong pre-season with another goal. The performance suggested City are making steady progress as they prepare for the start of the 2026/27 campaign.
