Enzo Maresca backs Manchester City to win appeal after financial rules guilty verdict

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has publicly defended the club following the independent commission's verdict, which found them guilty of 114 of 115 charges regarding Premier League financial rules. Speaking on 9 October 2026, ahead of Sunday's highly anticipated fixture against Liverpool at Anfield, the Italian manager insisted that the club's previous achievements are untainted and expressed absolute faith in the hierarchy's upcoming appeal.

Trust in the hierarchy and the appeal

Maresca, who succeeded Pep Guardiola as head coach this summer, stated he has complete trust in the club's leadership, including owner Sheikh Mansour, the chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, and Ferran Soriano, who serves as chief executive. The independent commission ruled that Manchester City used artificial contracts between 2009/10 and 2017/18 to disguise £830m in funding. Despite this, Maresca revealed he would still have accepted the manager job even if the guilty verdict had been delivered before he joined. He also confirmed he would remain at the club even if they suffer relegation as a consequence. He explained that there is no other team globally where he would prefer to work, adding that the owners are fully convinced they will win the appeal. He admitted he has not read the commission's findings, choosing instead to focus on how to organise his squad.

Trophies and the Anfield fixture

The Italian rejected any suggestions that the club's historical achievements, including the 2022/23 treble where he served as Guardiola's assistant, are now diminished. He described the effort of the players and staff during that period as unquestionable. Looking ahead, Manchester City face a tough trip to Anfield on Sunday at 4:30pm, where Maresca has urged his players to block out the external noise and focus entirely on the football pitch. Guardiola is also expected to attend the subsequent Champions League fixture against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, a visit Maresca welcomed warmly.