Manchester City captain Ruben Dias has issued a robust defense of his side’s jubilant reactions after their 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield last weekend. Despite the backdrop of recent findings regarding more than 100 breaches of the Premier League’s financial fair-play rules, Dias maintained that the squad remains unified and fully supportive of the club. It would be exactly the same, even if it was 1-0.
Addressing the criticism directed at their conduct, the Portuguese defender remarked that the external narrative does not change the players’ perspective. “I really feel like I speak for the whole group; we trust the club,” Dias stated. He added that the team is accustomed to negative attention, noting, “If there’s more or less noise or whatever the reason the noise is, at the end of the day it’s all the same, because people don’t love us winning and we love to win.”
Manager Enzo Maresca similarly dismissed concerns over the post-match enthusiasm, labeling the criticism unwarranted after a dominant performance against 10-man Liverpool. “Criticised for what? We won 3-0 at Anfield,” Maresca said, adding that the team remains singularly focused on their work on the pitch. He acknowledged that the ongoing legal challenges, which include 34 charges specifically for failing to cooperate with league investigators, have been particularly taxing for the club’s supporters.
“It is more complicated because if I was an Arsenal or United fan and you are a City fan, I can say ‘My friend, you are a cheat’,” Maresca explained, suggesting that the social stigma of the verdict impacts fans more directly than the squad. With City now sitting at the top of the Premier League table with six consecutive wins, they maintain a three-point lead over reigning champions Arsenal as they navigate an uncertain period following their appeal against the charges. With every match featuring the team now played under a huge cloud of uncertainty, city have appealed the verdict.
Looking ahead, City faces a significant test in the Champions League on Wednesday when they host the defending champions, Paris Saint-Germain. City is currently seeking to rebound from their 4-2 defeat to the French side during the 2024-25 campaign. Maresca expressed deep respect for PSG, stating that his team must deliver a “perfect game” to overcome the current leaders of the European stage. With City backed by the ruling family of Abu Dhabi while PSG are financed by the Qatari state, both clubs are bankrolled by wealthy owners from the Gulf. PSG are bidding for a third straight Champions League title, having come from two goals down to beat City 4-2 in stunning fashion during the 2024-25 edition.
The midweek clash at the Etihad Stadium will also mark a notable reunion, as former manager Pep Guardiola is expected to attend. It will be his first time back at the stadium since concluding his decade-long tenure at the club last season. Maresca noted that he has stayed in contact with the Spaniard, adding, “In case he’s coming, it’s a nice feeling – especially for him, because this has been his house for 10 years.”
As the club balances high-stakes European competition with domestic scrutiny, the focus remains on the field. Maresca emphasized that despite the external noise, the internal message is straightforward: preparation is everything. “We work every day to win games. It’s the only thing that we can think about and be focused on,” he said.
The win at Anfield provided a crucial momentum boost for the squad, moving them three points clear in the title race. Dias emphasized that the importance of such victories remains constant regardless of the timing or circumstances of the season. “We will celebrate however it feels in the moment, and it will obviously be a show of how much it means to us,” he concluded.
