Maresca: Manchester City Titles 'Absolutely Not' Tainted After Guilty Verdict
Enzo Maresca has defended Manchester City after the independent commission found the club guilty on the majority of Premier League charges, insisting the titles are "absolutely not" tainted and that City will overturn the ruling on appeal.
- Verdict: Guilty on all charges relating to Premier League financial regulations between 2009-10 and 2017-18
- Allegations: Sham contracts and misleading accounts linked to disguised secret funding worth more than £830m
- Next match: Liverpool vs Manchester City at Anfield — first game since the verdict
- Form: Maresca has won his first five Premier League matches and could become the fourth manager to win his opening six with one club
- Key fitness: Erling Haaland is fit and "ready" to face Liverpool
What was said
"The reason I joined this club is that I completely trust, 100%, the owner, the CEO, the sporting director, all the organisation. So I don't have doubt about that."
"I spoke with the club for sure. We all trust, and probably the right moment to speak about that is when we are going to win this appeal."
"For me, the players, we can control just the pitch side, the football side. So we are focused on that. This is what we can do and what we can control."
"It will be a tough game, for sure. We need to be ready, the focus needs to be about the game, but we know the environment at Anfield."
"It probably will be worse because of the situation but, again, it will be our duty to do our best and try to win the game."
"The reason I decide to become manager is for this type of game."
"We didn't speak about that because I don't think it was a problem for the club at the time and I think they are thinking in an honest way. I think they are convinced that in the end we are going to win the appeal."
"I played 11 years for the club and I've loved all the years I've played for the club. Everything we've achieved and done on the pitch I'm really proud of. Everything else, as a player you're not a part of that. Right now, as a coach of Bayern Munich, I'm not too occupied with that topic."
Maresca's message is one of unconditional backing for the City hierarchy, and he will not be drawn into a legal debate. Instead, he stresses that the players can only control what happens on the pitch, and they are not distracted by the noise around the club.
He also said he did not discuss the charges when he took the job in the summer, and insisted he would "100%" still have accepted the role even if the findings had already been published. That reflects a club-wide determination to present a united front as the appeal process begins.
Injury and availability
- Erling Haaland: Fit and "ready" to face Liverpool after international duty with Norway
Why Maresca is backing City to the hilt
Maresca's public stance leaves no room for ambiguity. By declaring that he trusts the owner, CEO and sporting director "100%", he is removing any suggestion of internal fracture at a moment when the club is under the most intense scrutiny in its history. The appeal will take months, and City need a calm dressing room.
On the pitch, City travel to Anfield with momentum. Five straight Premier League wins have given Maresca the best possible start, and victory at Liverpool would make him only the fourth manager to win his opening six top-flight matches in a spell with one club. That record is within reach, but the atmosphere will be unlike anything his players have faced this season.
Maresca knows the hostility will be intensified by the verdict. He admits the environment "probably will be worse" because of the situation, yet frames the occasion as exactly why he took the job. The psychological challenge is clear: City must match Liverpool's intensity while filtering out the noise from the stands. Erling Haaland's availability gives them their focal point, and his presence alone shifts how Liverpool's defence must set up.
Vincent Kompany's comments offer a window into how those associated with the club will separate on-pitch achievements from off-field matters. Kompany says he is proud of what was achieved on the pitch and is not occupied by the verdict as Bayern Munich coach. City's argument will lean heavily on that distinction.
Talking points
- Maresca says the titles are not tainted, but can any on-pitch success feel clean while a guilty verdict on more than £830m of disguised funding stands?
- Anfield will be hostile, but City have won five in a row — does the noise actually help a team that thrives on siege mentality?
- Maresca would have taken the job even if the findings were public. Does that show loyalty, or does it raise questions about what he knew?
- If City win the appeal, does the verdict become a footnote? If they lose, Maresca's defence could look very different in hindsight.
What happens next
Manchester City travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in their first match since the verdict. Maresca's side are chasing a sixth consecutive Premier League win, while the club's appeal against the independent commission's findings continues in the background. The result will shape the mood around City as they attempt to keep the season on track.
Frequently asked questions
Is Erling Haaland fit to play for Manchester City against Liverpool?
Yes. Maresca confirmed Haaland is "ready" after international duty with Norway and is available for the Anfield clash.
What did Enzo Maresca say about Manchester City's guilty verdict?
He said the club's titles are "absolutely not" tainted, that he trusts the hierarchy 100%, and that City will win their appeal.
How many Premier League games has Enzo Maresca won as Manchester City manager?
Maresca has won his first five Premier League matches in charge and can become the fourth manager to win his opening six with one club if City beat Liverpool.
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