Enzo Maresca insists his players and staff “trust completely” in Manchester City after the club were found guilty of more than 100 breaches of Premier League financial rules.
City have pleaded their innocence and submitted an appeal, but speculation has been rife across football over the sanctions they might face after an independent commission stated they broke the rules across nine seasons from 2009-10 to 2017-18.
The guilty verdict was announced during the extended three-week international break and, as striker Erling Haaland urged his team-mates to “stick together and enjoy the ride and smile” ahead of Sunday’s return to action at Liverpool, Maresca said his squad were feeling “fantastic”.
"They are just focused, in this moment, on how we can beat Liverpool.” 🔒
Enzo says our players are focused on the task ahead, starting with a trip to Anfield on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/VM5ALI1Iv1
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 8, 2026
Addressing the verdict for the first time in an interview with in-house media, Maresca said: “Personally I’m very calm to be honest.
“The club has been quite clear. We trust completely the club. We understand the noise, but the focus for us is just what we can control and we can control just the football side.”
The manager, who was all smiles as he gave a thumbs-up on his way into training on Thursday and will hold a press conference on Friday morning, added: “The feeling is fantastic, to be honest. The players are excited for the next two games. But especially they are excited because in this moment we are top of the league.
“The players are just focused on that. They know what we can control is the football side – they are not worried at all about different things.
“They know their profession and they know that the noise is there, but they don’t care too much about the noise.
“They are just focused in this moment on how we can bear Liverpool and how, together with the fans, we can try to win in Anfield.”
An independent commission concluded more than £830million of owner funding was used to inflate revenues and enable City to comply with Premier League and UEFA regulations through a series of “sham” arrangements.
City said the commission’s judgment contained “clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe” and that there was “a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” to support their position.
Haaland also issued a rallying cry as he urged the team to stay united.
The Norway international, who joined City from Borussia Dortmund for £51.2million in June 2022, said in an interview with Sky Sports: “We have to stick together, we have to stay with each other and we have to stay positive.
“And no matter what happens in life, we always have to have a smile.
“So we have to stay positive, look ahead and then try to win football games and then try to enjoy the situation and the game.
“We have to stick together and we have to spread the love to each other. So, stick together and enjoy the ride and smile.”
Haaland, whose father Alf-Inge also played for City, added: “I care a lot about the city, I have to say.
“I care a lot about the fans because I’m a fan myself and I feel with them as well.”
Meanwhile, former City boss Pep Guardiola, who has publicly stressed his support for his old club in the wake of the guilty verdict, is set to attend the Champions League fixture with Paris St Germain on Wednesday.
It will be Guardiola’s first return to Etihad Stadium since his summer departure.
Share