Ndiaye on joining City: 'Who doesn't want to be here?'

Iliman Ndiaye’s first words as a Manchester City player were as direct as Saturday’s 1-0 win over Coventry.

Quoted by Fabrizio Romano after the match, Ndiaye said: “It’s one of the biggest clubs in the world, who doesn't want to be here?!” He added that you play to win trophies and that the goal in every game is to win them. The winger started at the Etihad in a side that beat Coventry 1-0 through Erling Haaland’s 26th-minute header.

It was a debut weekend at both ends of the midfield. Enzo Fernández also started after Nico O’Reilly picked up a physical issue in the warm-up. Head coach Enzo Maresca, asked about City’s midfield depth, said competing clubs need options and that he is happy with the options City have, pointing out Arsenal and others are in the same position.

Where City stand

City sit top of the Premier League on nine points after three matches. For where to watch the next Etihad or away date, check the official Premier League broadcast listings in your market.

Ndiaye’s quote does not rewrite the starting XI. It does explain why the new forward line is being sold internally as a trophy project rather than a rotation experiment. Haaland remains the finishing reference; Ndiaye’s role on debut was to stretch the right side while City managed 78 percent possession against promoted Coventry.

Maresca’s public line was depth, not a pecking order. Until the next official squad list, Ndiaye is a starter who has already spoken on the record about why he chose the club.

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