Manchester City midfielder Ayub Buaddi expressed his joy after the 3-2 victory against Ipswich in the seventh round of the Premier League, which also saw him make his first start for the Citizens this season.
"I am really happy. We won the match, and that’s the most important thing. It was a very tough game because Ipswich are truly a strong team. They caused us problems in the second half, but we managed to get the win and are pleased with the result," Buaddi told Premier League Productions.
On his first start
The young midfielder shared his excitement about being in the starting eleven but acknowledged that his development will take time.
"Of course, I was very happy. It’s football; I love playing and want to be on the pitch for every match. However, I understand that this is all part of the process. Today, I was very pleased with my performance," he remarked.
On the tense finale
After Ipswich pulled a goal back, Buaddi and his teammates had to endure some serious pressure towards the end of the match.
"Sure, you feel a certain tension. You don’t want the opponent to score again, but we coped well with that situation. We were really happy to get the win," Buaddi stated.
On playing alongside teammates
Buaddi highlighted the benefits of playing alongside top talents at Manchester City.
"It’s easier to play with such players. Even if you sometimes make a poor pass, they can fix things and turn it into a successful play. It’s a huge pleasure to be alongside them," he said.
On Phil Foden's goal
He also expressed delight for Phil Foden, who opened the scoring in just the 19th minute.
"You’d have to ask Phil about that, but I’m sure he’s very happy to have scored. We’re all pleased for him. He’s an excellent player and an important part of the team. Every one of us is vital, and we all want to continually showcase good football," Buaddi remarked.
When reminded that Enzo Maresca had predicted his productive performance, Buaddi replied with a smile, "Did he say that? See, he turned out to be right!"
On Erling Haaland's condition
Towards the end of the interview, Buaddi was asked about reports suggesting that Haaland was limping after the final whistle.
"No, I don’t know anything about that. I went straight off the pitch, so I don’t have any information," Buaddi responded.
