Enzo Maresca 'snubs' Man City star again in Champions League clash as fans claim he 'hates' him

Fans are convinced Enzo Maresca has already made his mind up on Rayan Ait-Nouri after the win over Porto on Tuesday night.

City beat Porto 2-0 in rainy conditions at the Estadio do Dragao, with Erling Haaland scoring his first Champions League goal of the season.

Maresca made a few changes to his starting XI ahead of the upcoming Manchester derby but Ait-Nouri was on the bench and remained an unused substitute.

Josko Gvardiol, playing at left-back, received a yellow card in the first half and was replaced shortly after half-time.

Enzo Maresca snubs Man City star in Porto win

But instead of bringing on an obvious replacement in Ait-Nouri, Maresca elected to put on Abdukodir Khusanov in a position that he does not normally play in for the second half.

Not for the first time, Ait-Nouri was overlooked and fans concluded that Maresca does not fancy the Algerian.

He did come on for a late cameo as a left winger but Maresca does not appear to have much trust in Ait Nouri to play for an extended period.

One fan on X wrote: "Khusanov is playing LEFT BACK over Ait Nouri. Yeah, Enzo Maresca absolutely hates him doesn’t he."

A second said: "Maresca will rather play Khusanov Lb than play Ait Nouri. This is humiliating."

A third commented: "Feel bad for Ait nouri man Maresca just doesn’t rate him."

A fourth user added: "Ait Nouri is the only other LB option....yet Kushanov comes on for him - strange decision."

Ait-Nouri does not appear to be a candidate for the left-back spot as in a comfortable win over Crystal Palace, Maresca decided to give Kayden Braithwaite his debut at Selhurst Park.

The former Wolves defender, who was linked with a shock loan to Manchester United late in the window, did finally get his first minutes under Maresca in Porto and missed a chance to make it 2-0 with a right-footed effort which went wide of the goal.

He did then set up the second goal scored by England in stoppage time.

But he does not appear to be counted on by the Italian in his position and he was seen looking extremely disillusioned in footage which emerged on social media after the narrow 1-0 win over Coventry City.

Ait-Nouri does not appear be fixed on playing at left-back, however, and recently spoke about being open to playing in different positions.

Speaking to the club's official website, he said: "I will play wherever the manager wants me to, even if I need to play goalkeeper! I want to show what I can do and work for the team so I will give everything every time I go on the pitch no matter where I am asked to play."

City return to action on Sunday when they travel to Old Trafford to take on rivals Manchester United in the first derby of the season.

After the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal, City have won every game in all competitions.