Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has publicly declared his absolute faith in the club’s ability to successfully appeal a recent finding of guilt regarding more than 100 breaches of Premier League financial regulations. In his first news conference since the significant announcement last week, the Italian coach rejected any notion that the team’s achievements over the past 15 years have been compromised by the controversy. So I don’t have any doubt about that,” Maresca said. “So I know exactly the effort that the club put to achieve that kind of target.”.
An independent commission concluded that City orchestrated a series of sham contracts with commercial partners between 2009 and 2018. The ruling alleged these agreements were used to artificially inflate revenues and reduce operational costs by more than 900 million pounds ($1.2bn). The club maintains its innocence and is currently in the process of appealing the commission’s judgment, which could potentially lead to severe penalties, including points deductions, relegation, or expulsion from the Premier League.
Maresca, who took charge in June, emphasized that his decision to join the organization was rooted in his complete trust in the ownership, the CEO, and the sporting director. He remarked that there is no other club in the world where he would rather be, adding that he expects to speak further on the matter only once the appeal process has concluded in the club’s favor. “I trust the club because I trust the people, and this is also the reason why I joined the club. … There is not another club in the world where I would like to be.”. “I spoke with the club for sure, and we all [have] trust, and the right moment to speak about that is when we win this appeal.”.
Reflecting on the era of dominance initiated by the Abu Dhabi-backed takeover in 2008, Maresca defended the legitimacy of the eight Premier League titles and the Champions League trophy secured during that period. He asserted that he is fully aware of the dedication shown by the players, the coaching staff, and former manager Pep Guardiola, firmly rejecting claims that these successes are tainted.
Regarding the team’s internal atmosphere, Maresca noted that his players are focused on their upcoming fixtures and remain unbothered by the external scrutiny. Currently topping the league standings with five consecutive wins, the squad is preparing for a challenging trip to face Liverpool at Anfield. The manager insisted that he embraces such high-pressure environments as a key reason for his role.
Looking ahead to future engagements at the Etihad Stadium, Maresca welcomed the potential return of his predecessor. Pep Guardiola, who concluded his tenure last season, is expected to attend the home match against Paris Saint-Germain this Wednesday. Maresca stated that Guardiola is welcome back at any time, noting it would be a positive occasion for both the fans and the organization as a whole. Who continue to deny any wrongdoing, are appealing against the judgement, the 10-time English champions. “After 10 years here, he can come at any time he wants,” Maresca said. “I think it would be nice for him.
