Manchester City coach Enzo Maresca has echoed Erling Haaland’s concerns about players returning tired this season, admitting his squad members who featured at the World Cup are struggling to find early-season sharpness.

Speaking ahead of City’s Champions League opener against Porto at the Dragao Stadium on Tuesday, Maresca said it was understandable that some of his players were already showing signs of fatigue after a shortened break.

His comments came hours after Haaland opened up on his own YouTube channel about skipping pre-season entirely following Norway’s run to the World Cup quarterfinals.

The striker admitted he lacked his usual sharpness and mental freshness heading into the new campaign, though he has still managed three goals in three league outings.

Haaland stressed he wasn’t complaining, acknowledging it’s a privilege to play football year-round, but admitted the packed calendar leaves little room to recharge before diving straight back in.

Maresca backed those sentiments, saying rest periods, whether a single match or a full week, should be managed based on where the team stands at any given point. He added that trying to plan too far ahead, thinking about City’s form in February or March, only complicates things, and that his focus remains on incremental improvement from game to game.

City will be hoping Haaland and other World Cup returnees find their rhythm quickly as the Champions League campaign gets underway.