Maresca says Man City titles 'absolutely not' tainted after Premier League verdict

Enzo Maresca has strongly rejected any suggestion that Manchester City's titles have been tainted by the recent Premier League verdict. In his first press conference since an independent commission found the club guilty of most of the 115 charges related to financial regulation breaches, the Italian manager insisted the trophies are 'absolutely not' damaged and backed the club to win its appeal.

• Maresca rejects claims that City's titles are tainted by the commission's ruling.
• The club was found guilty of charges covering financial breaches between 2009-10 and 2017-18.
• City have appealed, saying the verdict contains clear material errors of law, principle and fact.
• Maresca confirms Erling Haaland is ready to play against Liverpool at Anfield.
• Other Premier League managers urge patience and respect for the appeal process.

Why Maresca defends Manchester City's titles

The Manchester City manager addressed the impact of the verdict on the legacy of the Guardiola era. Maresca, notably relaxed during the news conference, dismissed any doubts about the legitimacy of the club's trophies and said he knows exactly the effort that went into winning them. The Italian spent time at City as Pep Guardiola's assistant, including during the Treble-winning 2022-23 campaign, before returning as head coach this summer.

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.

City's appeal and Maresca's faith in the owners

The independent panel found Manchester City guilty of charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. The club has already filed an appeal, claiming the ruling contains clear material errors of law, principle and fact. Maresca believes the club will ultimately win that appeal.

The Italian explained that the charges were not discussed during the conversations about him taking the job in the summer, because the club did not see them as a problem. He insisted he would still have accepted the role if the findings had been published before an agreement was reached, because he believes the organisation acts in an honest way. Maresca's message is built on total trust in the owners and the ongoing legal process.

How Manchester City arrive at Anfield with Haaland ready

Sunday's game at Anfield will be City's first since the verdict was announced. Maresca confirmed that Erling Haaland is ready to play against Liverpool after recovering from his efforts with Norway during the international break in Marbella. The Norwegian striker remains a key figure for a team that has won all five of its opening Premier League matches under the new manager.

A win at Liverpool would make Maresca the fourth manager to start a Premier League spell at a club with six consecutive victories. The Italian expects a hostile atmosphere, possibly even more intense than usual at Anfield, but sees it as part of the challenge. He says these are the kind of games he became a manager for.

What other Premier League managers have said

The verdict has sparked reactions across Premier League dugouts. Vincent Kompany, former City captain and now Bayern Munich boss, said he is proud of his eleven years at the club and of everything achieved on the pitch, while admitting that as a player he was not involved in off-field matters. Mikel Arteta, who worked as Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City, called for the appeal process to be respected and said he would not comment further until it is resolved.

David Moyes recalled the ten-point deduction Everton received in November 2023, later reduced to six on appeal, and the additional two points docked in April 2024 for breaches of profit and sustainability rules. The Everton manager described it as terrible that his club lost points and paid fines not long ago, while other older cases have not yet been resolved. Chelsea's Xabi Alonso and Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola both called for patience until the appeal reaches a conclusion.

What the verdict means for City's season

The final outcome of the appeal will determine the real consequences for Manchester City. Maresca insists the dressing room is isolated from the noise and focused only on what happens on the pitch. The team faces a demanding visit to Anfield with the chance to maintain its perfect start and prove its competitive strength amid an institutional storm.