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Haaland is 100% fit, says Manchester City boss Maresca, who also defends Cherki showboating

Manchester City will be at full strength for Saturday's trip to Aston Villa after resting some key players - including Erling Haaland - for the midweek win over AEK Athens…

By Jon Fisher · 101 Great Goals

Published: Thursday, 22 October 2026 at 10:03 AM

Key Things to Know

Enzo Maresca confirmed Erling Haaland is 100% fit for Manchester City's trip to Aston Villa.
Maresca defended Rayan Cherki following recent criticism regarding the playmaker's showboating.
Matheus Nunes, Nico O'Reilly, and Mateo Kovacic face late fitness checks ahead of Saturday's match.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that striker Erling Haaland is "100%" available for Saturday's Premier League match against Aston Villa. Haaland was rested on the bench during City's midweek Champions League victory over AEK Athens. In contrast, late fitness assessments are required for Matheus Nunes, Nico O'Reilly, and Mateo Kovacic.

Maresca also defended playmaker Rayan Cherki amid criticism over showboating against AEK, praising the former Lyon player's creative impact and form. Cherki could feature alongside Haaland and Phil Foden, who scored a hat-trick in midweek, as City seek to extend their seven-game winning start to the league campaign.

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Haaland is 100% fit, says Manchester City boss Maresca, who also defends Cherki showboating

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