Luis Enrique defends Manchester City’s trophies before PSG clash

“They deserved to win those trophies,” Luis Enrique said of Manchester City, adding that he did not want to condemn the club despite the financial fraud case. PSG are due to face the English side this Wednesday at 21:00 in the 2nd round of Ligue. Manchester City are dealing with a major off-field crisis as the match approaches, making for an especially unusual backdrop.

The club has been found guilty of financial fraud. But Luis Enrique chose to take a broader view of the controversies surrounding major clubs. “There is a lot of noise around the big clubs, and now it is Manchester City’s turn,” he said on Tuesday, the day before the match. He also noted that “the trophies you win on the pitch stay on the pitch.”

The coach said he wanted to wait for the judge’s final decision and hoped for a positive outcome for Manchester City. He praised what the team had achieved on the field, saying it deserved its titles. “They deserved to win them and I hope they avoid a sanction. But whatever happens, we have to wait,” he added.

The comments come against the backdrop of Manchester City’s major honours: since 2008, the club has won eight Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2023, under Pep Guardiola, a friend of Luis Enrique. The match against PSG is therefore taking place amid an off-field crisis and the wait for a judicial decision.