Manchester City have made a brilliant start to the season under Enzo Maresca, with the holders of the FA Cup and League Cup bagging six consecutive wins across all competitions.
In these matches, the Citizens have showcased different aspects of their game. They thrashed Crystal Palace and Norwich but needed to dig deep against Coventry, Manchester United, and Bournemouth. Their away victory against Porto in the Champions League, however, was their most polished display to date.
Today, City face a physically strong Sunderland in the fifth round of the Premier League. Maresca's side is hoping to secure all three points before the international break, riding high on confidence.
Last weekend's triumph over United, achieved while a man down, meant far more than just three points. Such gritty wins are crucial for building the character of the revamped City side.
Another challenge awaits The Citizens at the Etihad, with Sunderland arriving in Manchester buoyed by their recent success. The Black Cats recently defeated Dutch side AZ (1-0) in the Europa League, marking their first victory in European competition in 53 years. Regis Le Bris' team is on a high.
Head coach Enzo Maresca is adamant that today's match will be the toughest test his team has faced this season.
I know how strong they are, and I feel that on Sunday we need to play our best game to win, and we must give 100% to secure the points. I watched their match against Arsenal live and then reviewed it again over the last two days. If you watch that game, you'll see how strong they are. Personally, I believe they didn’t deserve to lose that match.
But again, they are very strong, their manager is doing an excellent job. And again, they have been playing together for a while now, so you can see what they want to do with and without the ball.
My feeling after watching their games is that Sunday will be the toughest match of the season so far.
