Enzo Maresca’s first public appearance since Manchester City were found guilty on virtually all counts of breaching the Premier League’s financial rules was controlled, aside from a telling slip in his very first answer. The City manager faced a packed media conference of 45 attenders at the Etihad Campus, around three times the usual turnout, and the briefing lasted only 16 minutes.
The club had prepared the ground on Thursday by having Maresca tell their own channels that he was aware of the “noise” around City. When asked on Friday whether his stance was dismissive of the anger felt towards the club’s cheating, he replied: “I understand the reason why most of you are here but the only thing I can say is that there is a process ongoing and in this moment I completely trust the club.”
That phrase “in this moment” drew attention. Asked whether it meant he might change his mind, Maresca said: “Sorry, that was the wrong answer. I completely trust the club in this moment, in the future, always.” But the initial response was not denied, and it pointed to the unsettled times at City.
Maresca, clearly coached by the club’s media department, held a strict line of trust in a hierarchy headed by chair Khaldoon al-Mubarak and chief executive Ferran Soriano. A mention of those two produced the only intervention from the media officer. When Maresca was asked whether al-Mubarak and/or Soriano should have fronted up instead of him, it was made clear this was a briefing to preview Sunday’s trip to Anfield. “Don’t forget, it is a Liverpool press conference,” Maresca said.
The context is severe. After City were found guilty of the vast majority of more than 100 charges related to breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules by an independent commission, the Premier League’s subsequent statement used the word “sham” five times to describe City’s malfeasance. That provoked derisive memes, including “Shamchester City,” and City were concerned before Friday’s press conference that such emotive adjectives would frame questions to Maresca. They did not during the 16-minute briefing, which had no regular embargoed section for a Sunday game – understandable given the circumstances.
Maresca was smooth and serene when asked about Soriano’s assertion that “surprisingly for us and our lawyers after nearly two years the commission has issued an opinion that supports the Premier League’s conspiracy theory.” He said: “I understand the reason why most of you are here but the only thing I can say is what I said already. The reason why I joined this club is because I completely trust 100% the owner, the CEO, the sport director, and all the organisation. So, I don’t have any doubt about that.”
There was a lighter moment when Maresca was asked about Erling Haaland, who had demanded to be replaced during Norway’s last game of the international break. “Finally,” Maresca said. “He’s good. He went to Marbella, two or three days off, played golf, recovered and prepared for Anfield. He’s good. Thank you. It was good. Also because, again, the players are thinking again. International team, some day off and go again.”
On the pitch, City are leaders with a maximum 15 points from their opening five games and can expect a febrile welcome at Anfield on Sunday. They won there last season thanks to Haaland’s late penalty. “We need to be ready,” Maresca said. “Not only does the focus have to be about the game, but also we know that the environment in Anfield is nice. It will be even worse because of the situation. But again, it will be our duty to try to do our best and win the game. This is the situation. This is the noise.”
He added: “What do we need in Anfield? It’s also the passion from our fans and their voice. And hopefully at the end we can celebrate a good win. I’m always concerned. Not just Liverpool, I would be concerned also about Ipswich. I know that Anfield is a nice pitch, probably will be even more warm in terms of environment but the reason why I decided to be manager is for this kind of game.” He also said: “I’m not worried at all. The environment from the players is nice, in this moment we are top of the league, so the players have all the reasons to be happy and excited.”