Maresca Stands Firm: City's Titles Remain Untainted

Enzo Maresca has kicked off his tenure at Manchester City on a high note, winning all five of his opening Premier League matches in charge. In light of the club being found guilty of numerous charges by the Premier League, Maresca insists that City’s titles are "absolutely not" tainted. During a news conference that was flooded with questions about the ruling, he reaffirmed his faith in the club's ownership and expressed confidence in their ability to overturn the verdict on appeal. The Italian manager, appearing calm and composed, dismissed any notion that the titles were compromised, stating he knows "exactly the effort that the club put in to achieve" them. An independent commission recently ruled that Manchester City breached financial regulations from the 2009-10 to the 2017-18 seasons. City plans to challenge the commission's findings, claiming there are significant errors in the ruling that render it unsafe. As his squad prepares for a pivotal clash against Liverpool on Sunday, Maresca conveyed that the atmosphere within the team is "fantastic" and they remain unfazed by the surrounding controversies. "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," he said. Maresca emphasized that the players will focus solely on their performance on the pitch, leaving off-field matters aside. "This is what we can do and what we can control," he added. Since taking over from Pep Guardiola in June, Maresca is already making waves, having won his first five league games. If he secures a sixth victory at Anfield, he’ll join an elite group of managers to achieve that feat in the Premier League. The verdict from the independent panel claimed City was engaged in 'sham' contracts and misleading accounts to mask more than £830m in secret funding, which could lead to an even more hostile reception than usual at Liverpool. When asked about the intimidating atmosphere expected at Anfield, Maresca acknowledged it would be a tough match. “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,” he said. Maresca also confirmed that star player Erling Haaland is fit and ready to take the field after returning from international duty. While he didn’t dive into the details of the commission’s findings, he mentioned that the charges weren't part of his discussions when he accepted the managerial role. He remains confident that the club's integrity will shine through in the appeal process. Reflecting on the situation, Vincent Kompany, a former City captain and current Bayern Munich manager, expressed pride in the club’s accomplishments on the pitch, distancing himself from the off-field issues. Maresca's unwavering support for the club and his focus on the upcoming match exemplify his commitment to steering Manchester City through turbulent waters.