On Friday morning at 02:30 Beijing time (CEST), Manchester City will host Norwich in the third round of the EFL Cup. Ahead of the match, Maresca spoke at a press conference about the controversial refereeing decision in last weekend's Manchester Derby.

Howard Webb released a statement regarding Sunday's Manchester Derby, expressing his extreme disappointment over the referee's mistake. Now there is time to review—what is your view on his statement and the entire incident?

Simply put, we acknowledge that there was a wrong decision, and that's it. Sometimes these things go in your favor, and sometimes they go against you. I was here three years ago, and almost the exact same situation happened against Manchester United, and we lost that derby.

You have to remember that the goal itself was invalid, but honestly, no one came out to apologize then, and we are still waiting for an apology for that goal. Sometimes you are favored, sometimes you are not—that's football.

Are you relieved there is no VAR in tomorrow's match?

The players' performance on Sunday was exceptional, and I am very satisfied with it. Regarding the post-match controversy, we played with 10 men for 70 to 75 minutes, and I think it's somewhat unfair that people only focus on the referee's decision.

The players were fantastic, and I am proud of them. Tomorrow evening is another cup match, and our objective remains the same. As you said, there is no VAR, but we will not change our game plan because of that.

Where does the EFL Cup rank in your priorities?

It is just another competition. We need to give everything in every competition, do our best, and see what happens in the end.

You previously said that in cup competitions, you prefer to face Premier League teams rather than lower-league teams because unexpected things can happen. Do you still feel this way about this type of match? Not necessarily nervous, but just feeling there are many variables involved.

Indeed, single-elimination cup matches like this are always complicated. We must do our job to our standard. There is no doubt this match will be difficult for many reasons.

Do you see this type of match as an opportunity for backup players to compete for starting positions, or will you try to keep using your regular starting lineup?

We will definitely make some rotations. As for how much, it is difficult to say, but we are not doing it just for the sake of rotation. The players who play tomorrow also need to participate in crucial Premier League and Champions League matches later in the season.

The season has just started, and no players are suspended or injured yet. When November, December, January, and February arrive, the schedule will be congested, injuries will increase, and everyone will need rest. So the players who play tomorrow are also using this to continue improving themselves. We will need them in key matches later in the season.

Foden received a red card on Sunday. Does the team plan to appeal?

Honestly, we haven't discussed it yet. We're not certain at this point.

How is Foden doing now? What is his reaction?

During the break, he was very frustrated and upset because he knew he had done something inappropriate. After the match, his emotions calmed down a bit, and he was much better yesterday. Foden himself understands that his reaction at that moment was irrational, but that's in the past, and we move forward.

Is his suspension at this stage of the season a big blow for him and the team?

It is quite significant. He has been in excellent form recently, and his performance after coming on in the last match got off to a good start. Now he will miss tomorrow's match, as well as the matches against Sunderland and Liverpool, before he can return.

What is the progress of Doku's recovery? Can he play in this match?

He is very close to returning. Everything looks good, and his recovery is progressing well.

You mentioned that three young players have been brought into the first-team squad this year. Will there be additional young players in tomorrow's squad, or just these three?

Just these three young players. They train with the first team every day and sometimes play for the U21s to get minutes. All three will be in the squad tomorrow. I'm not saying they will all start, but they will travel with the team. We have another training session this afternoon, and then we will see if we need to add any other players.

People know little about Macadoo and Brathwaite, but Jahmai Murray-Campbell is relatively unknown. What impressed you about them? Is it surprising that he has consistently stayed in first-team training throughout the summer?

We brought many young players in during preseason, and only these three remained because we believe they can stay in first-team training, continue improving, and get playing time in the future. Macadoo has made two Premier League appearances, and Brathwaite also played against Crystal Palace. Only Jahmai has not officially debuted yet, but I am confident he will get his chance soon.

Going back to the derby weekend, as head coach, how do you view the public opinion after the match? The focus is entirely on the referee controversy, with very little discussion of the team's actual performance. Do you find that frustrating?

As I said at the beginning, sometimes decisions go in your favor, sometimes they go against you. It is not easy for the VAR official on the screen to make a decision in just ten or twenty seconds. Everyone makes mistakes; I make mistakes, and so do the players.

It is part of our job. But honestly, making a decision in just 20 seconds or two minutes is very difficult for them; the job itself is very complex.

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