Enzo Maresca has dismissed the Premier League’s findings that Manchester City breached financial rules as having “absolutely no” impact on the club’s titles. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the 46‑year‑old, who has already won each of his first five Premier League matches in charge, insisted that the team’s achievements were earned through legitimate effort and that the club’s owners and senior staff remain fully trusted.
The independent commission that reviewed City’s conduct between the 2009‑10 and 2017‑18 seasons concluded that the club was guilty of all 115 charges it had faced. The verdict, which highlighted “sham” contracts and misleading accounts that concealed more than £830 million in illicit funding, was announced earlier this month. City have lodged an appeal, arguing that the ruling contains “clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe.” Maresca said he had not discussed the findings with the club when he accepted the role in June, and that he would have taken the job even if the verdict had been publicised beforehand.
Ahead of the club’s first game since the ruling, an away fixture against Liverpool, Maresca told reporters that the squad’s morale was “fantastic” and that the players were not distracted by the surrounding noise. He added that the team’s focus would remain on the pitch, stating, “We can control the football side, that is what we can do and what we can control.” Maresca also confirmed that Erling Haaland is fit to face Liverpool after recovering from international duties in Marbella.
The club’s upcoming match at Anfield is expected to draw a hostile atmosphere, given the controversy. Maresca acknowledged that the environment could be “worse” but reiterated his commitment to perform on the field. “It will be a tough game, for sure. We need to be ready, the focus needs to be about the game, but we know the environment at Anfield,” he said.
City’s appeal is still pending, and Premier League officials have urged all parties to respect the process. Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, who has a history with City, said he would “respect the process” and that the club should refrain from further comments until a final decision is reached. Other managers, including Bayern Munich’s Vincent Kompany, Liverpool’s Andoni Iraola, and Chelsea’s Xabi Alonso, echoed a call for patience and a focus on the sport rather than the administrative dispute.
As City prepare to take the field against Liverpool, the club’s leadership remains confident that the appeal will overturn the commission’s findings. The outcome will determine whether the team’s recent successes can be celebrated without the shadow of the financial investigation.