Luis Enrique, coach of Real Madrid, expressed his support for Manchester City in the midst of the controversy surrounding the English club after the guilt of 114 of the 115 financial irregularities investigated was revealed. The former player and current Madrid coach spoke in advance of the Champions League duel between both teams, which will be held at the Etihad Stadium.
The case centers on alleged irregularities that allegedly generated more than €900 million in revenue for City. The UEFA Commission has imposed a potential sanction that could include the withdrawal of points and a ban from participating in European competitions. The club has appealed the decision, but pressure from fans and other clubs continues to mount, demanding harsher compensation and punishments.
In the comment, Luis Enrique emphasized that "the titles you dispute on the field remain on the field. They deserved to win them." He added that, although the club has been the subject of intense scrutiny, “there is a lot of noise around the big clubs and they have to wait for the final decision of the person who should decide.” The coach stressed that his analysis is based solely on sporting performance and that “Manchester City has done an incredible job in the last seven years on the field.”
The former player also emphasized the need to wait for the judges to conclude their investigation. “We have to wait to see what the judges say,” he said, reiterating his confidence that the final decision will be favorable for the club. Luis Enrique concluded that, regardless of the sanction, Manchester City's performance in the European competition has been worthy of recognition.
With the Champions League just around the corner, Real Madrid and Manchester City will face each other in a duel that, according to Luis Enrique, will be decided by football and not by administrative controversies. The result of the match and UEFA's decision will determine the direction of both teams in the season.