Enzo has been criticized for his victim mentality, which has caused problems, according to Telegraph.

Manchester City's midfielder once again became the center of controversy in the Manchester Derby victory, yet he is precisely the kind of professional "troublemaker" the club desires.

Enzo left the pitch with a bloodied nose, fitting his usual image—like an Argentine welterweight boxer leaving the ring with his head held high after an intense fight. However, if one defining trait of a boxer is the ability to absorb punches, then the £125 million Manchester City player falls far short; he frequently goes down from minimal contact, so light that it would be better detected by Snickometer than VAR.

In this intense Manchester Derby, Maguire not only appeared upset but seemed morally offended by his "ancient enemy's" actions. Enzo barely touched the center-back's ankle, yet he first pulled away and then fell as if electrocuted.

Whether it was blatant diving or attempting to obstruct Lisandro Martinez as Haaland's goal was scored, Enzo is the type of "troublemaker" you cannot take your eyes off. Yes, he will sacrifice for the team, but he is better known as someone who riles everyone up. And this is the quality most valued by Manchester City. Manchester City has brought in technical midfielders like Elliot Anderson and Bouaddi, and they still need a professional "disruptor" to complete this extravagant transformation. Enzo is a player who chose to be paid more by Manchester City than Chelsea, and he completes that task with almost cartoonish glee, bringing all the brutality and aggression into the game, unsettling Manchester United.

If Maguire was angered by Enzo's actions, so was Carrick. Manchester United's manager is typically composed, but this time he could barely hide his frustration that VAR did not overturn Haaland's goal, as Enzo appeared to obstruct Martinez while attempting a diving header in the six-yard box. Carrick said, "This is surprising"—a sharp comment, rare from him.

However you look at it, the decision is baffling. The offside rule clearly states that if a player "is actively trying to play the ball close to him when this action affects an opponent," it is offside, and Enzo's infringement meets both conditions. He rushed for the ball, disrupting Martinez's attempt to clear it. Yet VAR somehow decided he did not touch the ball, immediately shocking Manchester United's bench and delighting the source of controversy. Professional Game Match Officials Limited had to apologize three hours after the final whistle, essentially confirming that the decision to overturn the correct call and change it to an incorrect one was, as shocked onlookers witnessed, indeed wrong.

What Enzo enjoys most is escaping wrongdoing. English fans may not forget his dirty trick for Argentina in the World Cup semifinal: he struck Anderson's back of the head with his forearm in the 2nd minute but did not even receive a yellow card. More shamefully, he then used the "Topo Gigio" celebration to mock his critics, placing his hand behind his ear as if not hearing the jeers.

His ability to continually escalate the most outrageous behavior, combined with a self-pitying victim complex, is truly astounding. Especially when we recall images—for instance, kicking Cubarsí high into the air in the World Cup final, eventually receiving a red card; or in 2024 video footage, hurling homophobic abuse at Mbappé and making racist insults toward the French striker's teammate—it further reveals how despicable he is.

The problem is that football always pays for his bad reputation. After Enzo became the sixth player sent off in the tournament's biggest match, he was expected to be universally hated upon returning to the Premier League, facing criticism wherever he went. To some extent, this has happened: the moment he stepped off the team bus at Old Trafford, he was surrounded by deafening jeers, audible even over headphones. But of course, he smiled. Why wouldn't someone who shamefully exited the World Cup just a month earlier, and became the first player in history sold twice for nine-figure sums, laugh heartily?

So far, Manchester City has had no reason to worry about his baggage. He was highly effective in containing Manchester United, winning 6 duels, providing 3 through balls, and even hitting the post once when the home team was struggling. One thing is certain: Enzo will fill Manchester City's season with intense emotion. While Rodri's organization and orchestration are beautiful, during Manchester City's period of dominance where they suffocate opponents, they have often been criticized for playing too boringly, too coldly. Enzo promises to completely shatter that monotonous image, though his constant provocations and boasting after every controversially gained advantage may make the team even less popular among neutral fans than it is now.

His manager, Maresca, offered the most charitable assessment, emphasizing his "winning mentality." But when that Italian's judgment is off, he describes him as "well-behaved." Enzo has many different characteristics, but it is hard to imagine him quickly becoming a role model in Debrett's Guide to Etiquette. This is a player who pushed for a transfer to Real Madrid mid-season during his difficult spell at Chelsea, directly shirking all responsibility; and his understanding of loyalty was shown in the New Jersey July final, where he tried to have Cucurella, then his teammate, sent off for Spain.

Though in many ways he is an absolute scandal figure, he is also a dramatic flashpoint. Because he is always the topic of conversation, his influence remains—after all, everyone loves to hate him, except those in Manchester's sky blue camp.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

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