Maresca says ‘feeling is fantastic’ among Man City squad

Enzo Maresca says his players "don't care too much about the noise" surrounding Manchester City over the 115 Premier League charges. Image source, PA Media Image caption, Enzo Maresca replaced Pep Guardiola as Manchester City manager By Sami Mokbel Senior football correspondent Published 8 October 2026, 17:10 BST Updated 11 minutes ago Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca says the "feeling is fantastic" among his players and they "don't care too much about the noise" surrounding the club after it was found guilty of the majority of the 115 charges brought against it by the Premier League. The club's international players returned to training on Thursday, nine days after the Premier League published a damning report that stated the club had used "sham" contracts to disguise secret funding of more than £830m.

BBC Sport reported this week that Maresca would address the players upon their return to domestic duty after news of the verdict broke while the majority of the squad were away with their respective nations. It is understood the City head coach asked his players not to allow the crisis that has engulfed the club to affect their attitude and focus as the Premier League campaign gets back under way this weekend. "The feeling is fantastic, to be honest," Maresca said in an in-house interview when asked about the mood among his squad before their trip to face Liverpool on Sunday (16:30 BST).

"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.

"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. They are just focused in this moment on how we can beat Liverpool and how, together with the fans, we can try to win in Anfield." Maresca added he felt "calm" and his squad trusts the club "completely".

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca claims players unfazed by financial breaches verdict ahead of Liverpool showdown. Listen (2 mins) Save Share Man City players ‘don’t care too much’ after EPL charges, says boss Maresca on social media Share Add on Google Enzo Maresca took over as Manchester City manager in the summer [File: Jason Cairnduff/Reuters] By Kevin Hand Published On 8 Oct 2026 8 Oct 2026 Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has brushed off the guilty verdict hanging over the club and says he and the players are fully focused on football matters.

City could face a severe points penalty and even expulsion from the Premier League after an independent commission found they used “sham” commercial contracts to inflate revenue and cut costs by over 900 million pounds ($1.2bn) between 2009 and 2018. Recommended Stories list of 4 items list 1 of 4 CAS promises Senegal-Morocco AFCON title decision within days list 2 of 4 UEFA details FIFA presidential candidate criteria in bid to oust Infantino list 3 of 4 ‘Utmost respect’: Ronaldo pays tribute to Messi after Argentina farewell list 4 of 4 ‘He is our idol:’ Why Lionel Messi means so much to fans in India end of list City, who top the league with five wins in five games, return to action for the first time since the guilty verdict was revealed when they travel to Liverpool on Sunday.

The eight-time Premier League winners, who have appealed the decision, then play their first game in front of their own fans since the verdict, when they entertain back-to-back Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. “I am very calm, the club has been quite calm.

We trust completely the club,” Maresca told City’s in-house media on Thursday. “We understand the noise, but the focus for us is what we control and we control the football side.

“The feeling is fantastic, to be honest.” Maresca, who was assistant to former manager Pep Guardiola during the 2022-2023 season, addressed the players for the first time since the verdict when they returned to training on Thursday following the international break. When asked about the reaction of the squad – many of whom have been linked with a move away from City if the club’s appeal fails – Maresca said they were “excited” given their start to the season.

City have launched an appeal and have publicly maintained their innocence. The private communication to those with links to the playing staff at City has been equally as emphatic, it is understood.

Speaking to Sky Sports, striker Erling Haaland echoed his manager's sentiments, saying: "I care a lot about this place. I spent my first four years here, it's a special place for us.

I care a lot about City and the fans. "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. "We have to stick together and spread the love to each other.

Enjoy the ride and smile." Image source, PA Media Image caption, Erling Haaland is the leading scorer in the new Premier League season with five goals What Guardiola said about Man City charges Published 12 hours ago Clubs fear political interference in Man City appeal Published 11 hours ago Manchester City vs The Premier League What have other Premier League managers said? As Premier League football returns following a three-week hiatus, managers of rival clubs can expect to be asked to comment on the City verdict during their compulsory pre-match press conferences.

Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner will face the media on Friday but told reporters earlier in the week he hopes the process is completed "as soon as possible". Glasner joined Forest from Crystal Palace in the summer and cited his experience of the latter's demotion from the Europa League to the Conference League in 2025 after the club breached multi-club ownership rules.

"Let's wait until the final verdict is spoken, but my wish is just that this is quick," Glasner said. "Because we didn't know with Palace if we were in the Europa League or Conference League and then it was 'you will hear on Thursday' and then that became Monday, because it was always delayed.

Then we got the final verdict 10 days before the Conference League started. "That's why I think this must be [completed] as soon as possible.