Maresca publicly backs Manchester City’s leadership

Enzo Maresca continues to show almost complete confidence in Manchester City’s leadership, following the line taken by the club’s owners. At his press conference, the manager stressed that a process was ongoing, after the Premier League announced that City had been found guilty of the vast majority of more than 100 alleged breaches of its financial rules. The league’s subsequent statement used the word “sham” five times to describe the club’s conduct.

The appearance had been carefully prepared: on Thursday, Maresca had been asked to tell the club’s channels that he was aware of the “noise” around City. Twenty-four hours later, 45 people attended his conference at the Etihad Campus, around three times the usual number. Asked about the anger directed at the club, he replied: “I understand why most of you are here, but the only thing I can say is that there is a process ongoing and at this moment I completely trust the club.”

The phrase “at this moment” prompted a follow-up about whether he might change his mind. Maresca corrected himself: “Sorry, that was the wrong answer. I completely trust the club in this moment, in the future, always.” He also said he had 100% trust in the owner, the CEO, the sporting director and the entire organisation. The club’s communications department kept a close hand on the exchanges; a question about Khaldoon al-Mubarak and Ferran Soriano prompted an intervention.

Soriano’s absence from the media to answer questions about City’s predicament was also raised. Maresca, however, pointed to the purpose of the session: “Don’t forget, it is a Liverpool press conference.” It was meant in part to preview Sunday’s trip to Anfield. Soriano had said that, after nearly two years, the commission had issued an opinion supporting the Premier League’s “conspiracy theory”; Maresca declined to add to that statement.

The manager also spoke about Erling Haaland, who had asked to be substituted during Norway’s last game of the international break. “He’s good. He went to Marbella, had two or three days off, played golf, recovered and prepared for Anfield,” Maresca said.

The football remains the immediate focus: last season, City won at Anfield thanks to a late Haaland penalty. Maresca’s side are top with 15 points after the opening five games and can expect an intense reception on Sunday. “We need to be ready,” the manager said, anticipating an even more hostile atmosphere given the situation. He also urged City’s supporters to make their voices heard and said he was not concerned about his players’ mood.