Luis Enrique, coach of Real Madrid, spoke out in favor of Manchester City before the Champions League match between both teams, despite the controversy surrounding the English club. In the preview of the match at the Etihad, the former player and former coach of the Spanish team defended the legitimacy of City's titles, stating that "the titles you dispute on the field remain on the field."
The comment comes at a time of crisis for Pep Guardiola's club, which has been accused of 114 financial irregularities that allegedly generated more than €900 million in improper revenue. The investigation, which has already culminated in a conviction, has caused numerous fans and critics to demand severe sanctions and compensation. City, which has already appealed the decision, faces a process that could affect its participation in European competitions and its reputation.
In his speech, Luis Enrique showed a position of caution and respect. “I hope they can avoid the sanction, but we must wait,” he said firmly, underlining that “there is a lot of noise around the big clubs.” He added that the final decision must be made by the competent authority and that it is necessary to wait for the judges' verdict. The coach also recalled that, “if I only talk about football, and what I have seen on the field, Manchester City deserved the trophies and I really liked their way of playing football.”
Luis Enrique's comment is not unexpected, since the former coach has maintained a respectful relationship with the club during the Guardiola era, when they shared friendships and experiences in Spanish football. However, the statement was received with surprise by Real Madrid fans, who are often critical of clubs facing legal problems.
With the match scheduled for the night of October 18, Manchester City and Real Madrid will face off at the Etihad, as the investigation into financial irregularities continues. Fans and sports authorities await the final resolution, which will determine whether the English club will be able to continue competing without restrictions. The result of the match, however, will be in the hands of the players and the performance on the field, as Luis Enrique emphasized in his speech.