Paris‑Saint‑Germain manager Luis Enrique expressed surprise at the Premier League’s findings against Manchester City and voiced his hope that the English club will avoid further punishment. The comments came after an independent commission announced that City had breached financial rules on 115 counts, most of which were found guilty. The club is set to host PSG in a Champions League tie on Wednesday, its first home match since the verdict.
Enrique told reporters at the Etihad Stadium that the noise surrounding City’s case is “a lot of noise around big clubs.” He added that the club’s on‑field performances over recent years have been “incredible” and that the trophies they have won “deserved to be won on the pitch.” He said the authorities must decide the outcome and that the club should “respect the process and wait for the final decision.” City, which was bought by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, has denied the allegations and is appealing the ruling.
The investigation uncovered that between 2009 and 2018 City had used “sham” contracts with commercial partners to funnel more than £830 million into its football operations, a breach of Premier League financial regulations. The club’s appeal is still pending, and the final sanction will be announced by the league’s governing body. Enrique stressed that regardless of the outcome, the quality of City’s football remains unquestioned.
The match will see PSG, owned by Qatar Sports Investment and fresh from consecutive Champions League triumphs, take on City, who have been fined by UEFA in 2014 for similar breaches. PSG’s forward Ousmane Dembélé said that playing City is always challenging, regardless of the club’s off‑pitch troubles. He praised the quality of City’s squad and coaching staff, noting that “it doesn’t really matter; it’s always tough playing Manchester City.”
With the decision still pending, both clubs will focus on the Champions League fixture. PSG will look to maintain their dominant form, while City will aim to prove their on‑field merit amid the scrutiny. The outcome of the league’s investigation will determine whether City faces further sanctions, but for now the focus remains on the upcoming match.