Manchester City returned to full training on Thursday with Enzo Maresca urging his players to keep their heads clear after the club was found guilty of 115 Premier League financial charges.
Most of the squad had been away on international duty when the verdict was made public nine days earlier. Their first collective session back at the City Football Academy came with the outside noise at full volume, but Maresca’s message was to concentrate on the next ball, the next fixture and little else.
Quick facts
- Manchester City were found guilty of 115 charges brought by the Premier League.
- International players rejoined the group on Thursday, nine days after the decision was announced.
- City resume their league campaign at home to Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool on Sunday.
- Maresca’s side have won each of their opening five Premier League matches.
- They sit three points ahead of reigning champions Arsenal.
- Paris Saint-Germain, managed by Luis Enrique, visit City on Wednesday in the Champions League league phase.
Maresca, who succeeded Pep Guardiola during the summer, said he was entirely calm about the position and placed his faith in the club’s response. The Italian accepted there had been considerable discussion around the case, but insisted football was the only part his squad could influence.
“I am very calm personally,” Maresca said. “The club has been very clear and I trust it completely. I understand the noise, but our focus is on what we can control, and that is football.”
He described the mood among his returning players as “fantastic”. With City leading the table after five wins from five, Maresca said the group were looking forward to the next two matches rather than allowing events beyond the training pitch to unsettle them.
“They are very excited about the coming games, but above all they are encouraged because we are top at the moment,” he said. “They know what we can control is football. They know their job, and while there is noise outside, they are not concerned by it.”
Erling Haaland echoed that line, calling for the squad to stay together as the season moves into a demanding week. The striker said a positive outlook remained essential regardless of circumstances.
“We have to support each other and stay positive,” Haaland said. “Whatever happens in life, you have to keep smiling, look ahead, try to win matches and enjoy the moment.”
Sunday’s meeting with Liverpool offers an immediate test of that resolve, followed quickly by PSG’s visit in Europe. City have made a perfect start in the league; now Maresca wants the table, rather than the turbulence around it, to occupy his players’ thoughts.
