Premier League managers demand clarity on Manchester City charges as Maresca defends club
Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick and Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca addressed the club's ongoing financial charges case at Premier League press conferences on Friday, October 9, 2026, while other top-flight managers also commented on the situation. City deny wrongdoing and have appealed the findings of an independent commission.
An independent commission found Manchester City guilty of breaching the Premier League's financial rules over nine seasons between 2009-10 and 2017-18 and guilty of three of four charges relating to their failure to cooperate with the investigation. City have appealed the commission's findings, and with the appeal still pending the case continues to draw attention across English football, with managers taking different positions on the matter.
Carrick called for a swift resolution to the case, saying the prolonged process had raised questions and affected him personally. "It's thrown up a lot of questions, some have had answers, some haven't. As it's still ongoing, and we don't know how long it's going to go, there's only so much I can say," he said at a press conference on Friday.
Carrick, who spent 12 years at Manchester United as a player between 2006 and 2018, reflected on what winning means to players and staff. "It's the moment that you strive for to win and achieve in that moment, so the medal here or there, not getting blase about it, but that doesn't bring the feeling of when you initially win or you don't win. That's essentially what we're all in it for," he said, adding: "Certainly I've got my own questions about it, it's affected me personally in different ways over a period of time. But as the case is going now I don't know where that stands and how it's going to end up, so we'll just have to wait and see." He stressed that a quick resolution would be in everyone's interest.
Maresca rejected suggestions that City's titles had been tainted and pointed to his direct experience at the club. "The last time I was here was the treble season. I know the effort from the players, from the club, from the manager in that time, that was Pep. So I know exactly the effort that the club put to achieve that kind of target. So I don't have any doubt about that," he said, and when asked whether he believed City's achievements were tainted he replied: "Absolutely not."
The City manager, who was part of Pep Guardiola's coaching staff when City won the treble in the 2022-23 season and who replaced Guardiola in June, said he had confidence in the club's ownership and would not have rejected the job had he known what lay ahead. "I trust the club because I trust the people. So that is why I joined the club. And then there is not another club where I would like to be. So I'm very happy to be here, I'm very proud since day one," he said. On discussing hypothetical consequences before the process concluded he added: "I won the Championship with Leicester, so if we go down to League One, we will see."
City travel to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday, a fixture that has generated security concerns after a social media post urged supporters to gather for a team-bus welcome before kick-off. Merseyside Police said an appropriate policing operation will be in place, and the club noted that the City's bus was struck by bottles, cans and flares before a Champions League match at Anfield in 2018, leaving it damaged and requiring a replacement for the return journey.
Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola said the lack of clarity over City's future was creating uncertainty across the Premier League. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said: "Obviously I think it's very important that we respect the process, I think the timelines, and it's still an ongoing process that is not resolved, because it's been appealed," adding: "And my position, I think the club's position, is not to make any further comments until this is fully resolved." On his team's focus he said: "In our hands it's the way we have prepared, since all the internationals are back, to be in the best possible condition, to be better than Leeds tomorrow and beat them and that's where the focus has been." Potential sanctions could include a points deduction, a fine or expulsion from the top flight, although no final decision has been announced.
