Enzo Maresca backs Manchester City leadership after financial ruling

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca said on October 9 that he fully trusts the club's leadership despite an independent commission's financial misconduct ruling. Speaking before the Liverpool match, he also said Erling Haaland was ready to play.

The news conference was Maresca's first since the commission's findings were published. According to the Guardian, it found the club guilty of the vast majority of more than 100 breaches of Premier League financial rules. City is challenging the decision and denies the allegations.

The manager initially said he trusted the club “in this moment”. Asked whether that position might change, he corrected the wording to make clear that his trust applied now, in the future and always. He stressed his confidence in the owner, chief executive, sporting director and wider organisation.

When asked why he was addressing reporters rather than chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak or chief executive Ferran Soriano, a club representative intervened to emphasise the football purpose of the briefing. Maresca also pointed out that the conference concerned the forthcoming trip to Liverpool.

On Haaland, the manager said the striker had recovered after Norway's internationals. Having asked to be substituted in his last national-team match, he took a few days off in Marbella before preparing for Anfield.

City enters the fixture with 15 points from its opening five league matches. The game takes place on Sunday, October 11. Maresca expects a charged atmosphere amid the club's situation but said his task was to focus the players on their football and pursuit of victory.