Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca has reported that morale within the squad remains high despite the club being found guilty of the majority of 115 financial charges brought by the Premier League. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s match against Liverpool, Maresca emphasized that players are maintaining their focus on football rather than external noise.
The international players returned to training on Thursday, nine days after the league published a report concluding that the club utilized “sham” contracts to conceal over £830m in secret funding. According to BBC Sport, Maresca addressed the team upon their return, urging them to keep the ongoing crisis from affecting their attitude as the domestic campaign resumes.
“The feeling is fantastic, to be honest,” Maresca said during an internal interview. “The players are excited for the next two games. But especially they are excited because in this moment we are top of the league. The players are just focused on that.”
The manager added that the squad understands the boundaries of what they can control. “They know what we can control is the football side – they are not worried at all about different things. They know their profession and they know that the noise is there, but they don’t care too much about the noise,” he explained. Maresca also expressed confidence in the club’s support system, stating he feels “calm” and that the squad trusts the organization completely. Manchester City has launched an appeal and continues to assert its innocence.
Striker Erling Haaland echoed his manager’s sentiments, highlighting his personal connection to the club. “I care a lot about this place. I spent my first four years here, it’s a special place for us,” Haaland told Sky Sports. “The fans will have a good time on Sunday – we have to stick together. We have to stay with each other and stay positive. No matter what happens in life, we always have to smile. Stay positive, look ahead, and try to win football games and enjoy the situation.”
As Premier League football returns after a three-week break, managers from rival clubs have been fielding questions regarding the verdict. Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner called for the process to be resolved “as soon as possible,” drawing parallels to the uncertainty his former club Crystal Palace faced in 2025. Meanwhile, Leeds United’s Daniel Farke and Newcastle United’s Matthias Jaissle avoided extensive comment, and it is understood that several clubs have advised their managers not to engage deeply with the topic.
Coventry manager Frank Lampard, who played for City during the 2014-15 season, suggested that even if titles were stripped, players would still regard them as personal achievements. “I have titles and I don’t have my titles hanging on my wall at home, I have them in my head,” Lampard said. He noted that there appears to be little appetite within the Premier League to remove past titles from clubs.
Oliver Glasner’s point about resolving this ASAP makes sense. The uncertainty is hurting everyone, not just City.
Top of the league is all that matters. Let them appeal; City have the depth to keep pushing on the pitch.
Sham contracts for over £830m? This is unbelievable. Does anyone else think the punishment won’t match the crime?
Focus on football while the noise happens elsewhere. That’s professional level maturity from Haaland and Maresca.