Taking over from Pep Guardiola - 20 trophies during 10 seasons in charge - was always going to be a big challenge for Enzo Maresca.

Seven matches in, City's Premier League record remains flawless.

No points dropped, seven wins out of seven despite falling behind against Bournemouth and playing for more than an hour with 10 men at Manchester United.

"For sure I didn't expect to win seven out of seven," said Maresca. "We are working well and working good.

"I'm very happy especially with the situation in general.

"Today we controlled the game for 95 minutes. We created chances, we scored.

"We finished with a little bit of suffering together but overall, it is good."

On Phil Foden's impressive return to action, Maresca added: "I said since day one that I love Phil. I know him from years ago and I know how good he is.

"It's a matter of helping him to again be one of the best players in the Premier League."

Despite the off-field turmoil, this is City's best start to a league season in 129 years.

Only Chelsea in 2005-06 (first nine) and Liverpool in 2019-20 (first eight) have ever won the first seven matches of a Premier League campaign.

Both went on to win the title.

"First of all, I am very happy because it's a matter of winning games in this business," said Maresca after the game.

"We were able to win seven in a row and what made me very happy was day by day with the players, the way they are working and how I can see them improving.

On his players dealing with the events surrounding the club off the field, Maresca said: "They are not worried about people who judge from outside because they know people are trying to judge them."