Maresca sticks to club line at Etihad Campus media conference after Premier League verdict
On Friday at the Etihad Campus, Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca held a packed pre-match media conference — his first public appearance since the club was found guilty on virtually all counts of breaching Premier League financial rules. Around 45 journalists attended, roughly three times the usual number, and Maresca repeatedly expressed trust in the club hierarchy during the briefing ahead of Sunday’s trip to Anfield.
The club had prepared a pre-emptive message on Thursday, instructing Maresca to tell City channels he was aware of the “noise” surrounding the club. He opened by saying, "I understand the reason why most of you are here but the only thing I can say is that there is a process ongoing and in this moment I completely trust the club," before correcting himself: "Sorry, that was the wrong answer. I completely trust the club in this moment, in the future, always." That exchange occurred in front of an audience roughly triple the normal size for a pre-match briefing.
A single intervention by the club’s media officer came when Maresca was asked whether Khaldoon al-Mubarak or Ferran Soriano should have fronted up instead of him; Maresca responded, "Don’t forget, it is a Liverpool press conference." He otherwise delivered lines aligned with the club’s position, repeatedly emphasising faith in the organisation’s leadership.
The Premier League commission found City guilty of the vast majority of more than 100 charges and the league’s statement used the word "sham" five times to describe the club’s conduct. Club officials had been concerned emotive characterisations would shape questioning, but the 16-minute session did not feature those labels and omitted the regular embargoed section normally used ahead of a Sunday fixture.
When asked about Ferran Soriano’s comment that "surprisingly for us and our lawyers after nearly two years the commission has issued an opinion that supports the Premier League’s conspiracy theory", Maresca replied: "I understand the reason why most of you are here but the only thing I can say is what I said already. The reason why I joined this club is because I completely trust 100% the owner, the CEO, the sport director, and all the organisation. So, I don’t have any doubt about that." The manager presented himself in a bottle-green polo shirt and appeared composed while addressing that line of questioning.
On football matters Maresca offered a lighter update on Erling Haaland, who had demanded to be replaced during Norway’s last game of the international break, saying: "Finally. He’s good. He went to Marbella, two or three days off, played golf, recovered and prepared for Anfield. He’s good. Thank you. It was good. Also because, again, the players are thinking again. International team, some day off and go again." The club’s victory at Anfield last season, secured by Haaland’s late penalty, was referenced in the context of the forthcoming match.
City enter Sunday’s fixture as leaders with a maximum 15 points from the opening five games, and Maresca warned of a charged atmosphere at Anfield. "We need to be ready," he said. "Not only does the focus have to be about the game, but also we know that the environment in Anfield is nice. It will be even worse because of the situation. But again, it will be our duty to try to do our best and win the game. This is the situation. This is the noise."
City will travel to Anfield on Sunday for the scheduled match, with Maresca insisting he was "not worried at all" and adding: "The environment from the players is nice, in this moment we are top of the league, so the players have all the reasons to be happy and excited."