Enzo Maresca urges Man City fans to bring ‘many bananas’ in Ipswich game after inflatable displays helped unite team and fans in 3-0 Anfield victory

Manchester City’s inflatable bananas made an unexpected return at Anfield last weekend, turning a difficult away day into a colourful show of support for the club. After City’s 3-0 win over Liverpool, manager Enzo Maresca now wants the travelling tradition brought home for Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Ipswich Town, hoping the stands will be filled with the same spirit as the club navigates an unresolved financial case.Maresca wants the bananas back at the EtihadCity supporters brought more than 1,000 inflatable bananas to Anfield, distributed by the fans’ group 1894, as the team played its first match since an independent commission’s verdict on the club’s financial charges. Maresca, who admitted he had not known the story behind the unusual tradition, said he hoped to see plenty of them at the Etihad.“It’s very nice. I didn’t know the history behind the banana, but I hope tomorrow I can see many bananas in the stadium,” Maresca said, according to ESPN. He added that it creates “a nice environment” for fans and everyone at the stadium.The manager said the scrutiny surrounding City had brought supporters, players and the club closer together. Ruben Dias had recently suggested that people did not want City to win, and Maresca agreed that the team’s response had shown its determination.“I think probably since the noise, I can see from my personal point of view, the fans, the club, the team, more together for sure,” he said.The banana revival has even reached Maresca’s family, with his four children asking about the inflatables before attending Saturday’s match. “They already asked me, but tomorrow they’re going to be at the stadium and we’ll see,” he said.A club tradition that began with a nicknameThe inflatable banana tradition dates back to Manchester City’s 1987-88 season, when the club was playing in the Second Division following relegation from the top flight the previous year. What began as a light-hearted joke soon became an enduring part of the club’s supporter culture.According to Dante Friend of the 1894 supporters’ group, the idea originated when a fan nicknamed former City forward Imre Varadi “Imre Banana”. Supporter Frank Newton then reportedly brought an inflatable banana to a subsequent match, inspiring others to follow suit. Over time, the novelty became an unmistakable symbol of City’s fanbase, particularly during difficult periods for the club.The tradition gradually faded over the years, but supporters have now revived it amid the scrutiny surrounding City’s financial case. The 1894 group distributed more than 1,000 inflatable bananas to travelling fans at Anfield, where City secured a 3-0 victory over Liverpool. Varadi himself joined in on social media, writing: “The bananas are taking over Anfield!”Now, manager Enzo Maresca hopes to see the tradition continue when City host Ipswich Town, viewing the display as a symbol of unity between the club, players and supporters during a challenging period.The financial case remains unresolvedThe display at Anfield came amid the fallout from the independent commission’s September 29 verdict, which found City guilty of 114 of 115 Premier League financial and cooperation charges relating to alleged breaches between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. City have denied the allegations and appealed, with potential sanctions still undecided.Liverpool supporters made their opposition to City clear, while the visiting fans answered with their own conspicuous show of support. Maresca has repeatedly said the legal proceedings are outside his control and that his focus remains on preparing the team.“I don’t feel any kind of stress about the outside situation, because it’s something that I don’t control,” he said. “I just focus on, again, how we can try to win the next game.”Maresca said he was pleased with how Manchester City had responded to the scrutiny, praising the unity between the club, players and supporters despite their midweek 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.“I’m very pleased. We handled it quite good, all together, the club, the fans, the team, everyone,” he said.Ipswich arrive as City seek another league winCity host Ipswich at the Etihad on Saturday, October 17, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm BST, or 7.30pm in India. City have won all six of their Premier League matches since Maresca took charge, matching the best start to a managerial reign in the competition, a record previously achieved by Pep Guardiola, Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Carlo Ancelotti.Despite the impressive run, Maresca insisted his focus remained on securing another three points rather than extending the record. “Saturday’s game is a three-point game, exactly the same points as Anfield. So that’s why it’s important to continue on our run and try to win,” he said.Ipswich arrive after a 2-1 victory over Fulham, while City will be looking to bounce back from their midweek 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. Maresca said the league points available against Ipswich were no different from those earned at Anfield, and he was wary of placing too much importance on the managerial record.“These kind of records, they can be good if at the end of the season you achieve something,” he said. “Otherwise, they are not important.”For Maresca, the immediate task is straightforward: win the next match, with the supporters’ bananas hopefully adding a little more colour to the occasion.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.