Maresca Says Man City Squad Remains Focused

Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca says his players remain positive and focused on football despite the controversy surrounding the club’s Premier League charges.

Maresca praises squad mentality

Enzo Maresca has described the atmosphere within Manchester City’s squad as fantastic, insisting his players are not allowing the controversy surrounding the club to distract them from their footballing responsibilities. City are preparing to face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday as the Premier League campaign resumes.

The comments come after the club was found guilty of the majority of the 115 charges brought against it by the Premier League. The findings have intensified scrutiny of City’s financial conduct, although the club has launched an appeal and continues to maintain its innocence.

Players return to training

Manchester City’s international players returned to training on Thursday, nine days after the Premier League published its findings. The report stated that the club had used what it described as sham contracts to disguise more than £830m in secret funding.

With many players away on international duty when the verdict was announced, Maresca was expected to address the squad upon their return. The coach reportedly urged his players to remain professional and prevent the controversy from affecting their attitude as domestic football resumes.

Speaking in an interview with the club, Maresca said the players were excited about their upcoming matches and focused on their position at the top of the league.

He explained that the squad understood the importance of concentrating on football rather than external criticism, adding that their immediate priority was finding a way to defeat Liverpool.

Maresca expresses confidence in City

Maresca also said he felt calm about the situation and believed his players trusted the club completely. Manchester City has consistently denied wrongdoing and is challenging the findings through an appeal process.

The coach’s comments suggest the club is attempting to maintain stability within the dressing room while the legal proceedings continue. City must now balance the uncertainty surrounding its case with the demands of competing at the highest level of English football.

Haaland urges unity among fans

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has also called for unity, expressing his strong connection to the club and its supporters.

Haaland said City was a special place for him and stressed that the players and fans needed to support one another during the difficult period.

He urged supporters to remain positive ahead of Sunday’s match against Liverpool, encouraging everyone connected to the club to stay together and focus on enjoying football.

The Norwegian forward said the team needed to continue winning matches while maintaining a positive attitude, regardless of the controversy surrounding the club.

Rival managers call for clarity

The case has also attracted attention from managers across the Premier League, with some expressing concerns about the impact of prolonged proceedings on the competition.

Nottingham Forest manager Oliver Glasner said he hoped the process would be completed as quickly as possible. Drawing on his experience at Crystal Palace, which was demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League in 2025 following a breach of multi-club ownership rules, Glasner said uncertainty could create difficulties for clubs.

He also stressed that maintaining the integrity of the Premier League was essential to preserving supporters’ trust in the competition.

Leeds head coach Daniel Farke and Newcastle’s Matthias Jaissle avoided lengthy comments on the matter, while some clubs are understood to have advised their managers against discussing the case publicly.

Lampard discusses possible title consequences

Coventry City manager Frank Lampard, who played for Manchester City during the 2014-15 season, also addressed the possibility of the club losing previous titles if sanctions are eventually imposed.

Lampard said players would continue to regard their achievements as part of their personal histories, regardless of any subsequent decisions. He highlighted the difficulty of winning the Premier League and argued that such accomplishments remain part of a player’s memories.

Manchester City has not yet received a punishment in the case. For now, Maresca and his squad are concentrating on their upcoming fixtures while the club’s appeal continues.