Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca stated that the players are focused on their upcoming match against Liverpool, despite the recent guilty verdict regarding financial breaches. An independent commission found that Manchester City used 'sham' commercial contracts to inflate revenue and cut costs by over 900 million pounds ($1.2 billion) between 2009 and 2018, which could result in a significant points penalty or expulsion from the Premier League.
Currently at the top of the league with five wins in five games, Manchester City will face Liverpool on Sunday for their first match since the verdict was announced. Following that, they will play against Paris Saint-Germain at home.
Maresca expressed confidence in the club, stating, "I am very calm, the club has been quite calm. We trust completely the club." He emphasized that the focus remains on football, saying, "The players are excited for the next two games, but especially they are excited because in this moment, we are top of the league."
He noted that the squad is not worried about the ongoing situation, focusing instead on their performance on the field. As part of their appeal against the commission's decision, Manchester City maintains their innocence, claiming that the commission's findings contain "clear material errors" and asserting they have evidence to support their position. The commission also found the club guilty of failing to cooperate with the investigation.