Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has insisted that the club’s titles are “absolutely not” tainted by the Premier League financial charges, expressing confidence that the club will win its appeal against the verdict.
Maresca reaffirmed his faith in City’s owners and management during a news conference on Friday, as questions about the case dominated proceedings ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash against Liverpool at Anfield.
The Italian rejected suggestions that the club’s achievements had been undermined by the ruling, saying he knew “exactly the effort that the club put in to achieve” its titles.
An independent commission found Manchester City guilty of the majority of the charges relating to alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.
The club has appealed against the verdict, arguing that the commission’s ruling contained “clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe”.
Maresca backs Man City owners over appeal
Maresca, who was appointed as Pep Guardiola’s successor in June, said he had complete confidence in the club’s leadership.
“The reason I joined this club is that I completely trust, 100%, the owner, the CEO, the sporting director, all the organisation. So I don’t have doubt about that,” he said.
He added that the club would address the matter further when the appeal was won, expressing confidence in the outcome.
Maresca also insisted that the players were concentrating on football rather than the controversy surrounding the club.
“For me, the players – we can control just the pitch side, the football side. So we are focused on that. This is what we can do and what we can control,” he said.
In an interview published by the club on Thursday, the manager had described the atmosphere among his players as “fantastic”, adding that they were not affected by the “noise” surrounding the case.
Man City prepare for Liverpool showdown
City face Liverpool in their first match since the verdict was announced, with Maresca expecting a challenging atmosphere at Anfield.
The manager acknowledged that the reaction from supporters could be more hostile than usual because of the controversy.
“It probably will be worse because of the situation but, again, it will be our duty to do our best and try to win the game,” he said.
Maresca added that matches of this magnitude were among the reasons he wanted to become a manager.
The 46-year-old has won each of his first five Premier League matches in charge of City and could become the fourth manager to win his first six games in charge of a club in the competition if his side beats Liverpool.
He also confirmed that striker Erling Haaland was “ready” to feature against Liverpool after recovering from his efforts for Norway during the international break in Marbella.
Man City charges spark renewed scrutiny
The independent commission’s findings included allegations involving sham contracts and misleading accounts, with the case concerning more than £830 million in alleged concealed funding.
Manchester City has rejected the verdict and is challenging it through the appeals process.
Maresca declined to confirm whether he had read the commission’s findings. He also said the charges were not discussed during conversations about his appointment in the summer.
Asked whether he would still have accepted the job if the findings had been published before an agreement was reached, he replied that he would have done so “100%”.
“We didn’t speak about that because I don’t think it was a problem for the club at the time and I think they are are thinking in an honest way,” Maresca said.
He added that the club remained convinced it would win the appeal.
Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany, a former Manchester City captain who spent 11 years at the club, also commented on the controversy on Friday.
“I played 11 years for the club and I’ve loved all the years I’ve played for the club. Everything we’ve achieved and done on the pitch I’m really proud of,” Kompany said.
Manchester City’s appeal remains central to the case, while Maresca and his players turn their attention to Sunday’s meeting with Liverpool.
