Enzo Maresca must try and get a plan together for Manchester City to beat Liverpool but there will be deafening noise around the club for weeks
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Enzo Maresca, head coach of Manchester City reacts during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Manchester City and Norwich City at Etihad Stadium on September 17, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
Manchester City coach Enzo Maresca has a tough task ahead
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It was a busy Friday afternoon for Manchester City. If you weren't following, the club's social media channels carried highlights of Rayan Cherki's 'flying start to the season', news that Erling Haaland has won the club's player of the month award, and an announcement of a new restaurant at the stadium.
Completely missing were any pictures of corner flags, badges, or the words 'Club Statement' as the club ignored the unfolding storm around the news that they are expected to be found guilty of most of the charges around the 115 case. It is one of the biggest stories in football, yet while it remains unfinished City won't be commenting.
That is one of the delays that means the next few days will be full of more speculation rather than evidence and cold hard facts. The fact that the findings of the verdict have been leaked would suggest publication of all the gory details - or at least some form of confirmation - cannot be far away, but until that arrives there will be no comment from City and none from the Premier League.
The club will also appeal any guilty verdicts, and that will require a separate hearing with another judge that wouldn't start for a few months yet and would then need time for a fair hearing. That would bring another delay to any final outcome, likely taking us well into 2027 before both sides accept that it is over.
In the meantime, endless questions will be asked and theories put out there in a (perfectly legitimate) media frenzy. Any Premier League player on international duty will be asked for their opinion in press conferences and mixed zones, and once the Premier League arrives it will be a starting point for every manager; it's hard to know whether there will be more seats for Enzo Maresca's press conferences or Jurgen Klopp's with Germany given he was Liverpool manager during that intense rivalry with Pep Guardiola's side.
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Somehow, Maresca and his players must focus when they return to training in under two weeks. They have a trip to Anfield and a Champions League game at home to Paris Saint-Germain in the first four days they are back, and they cannot afford to be distracted if they want to be successful this season.
Having been on the coaching staff in 2023 when the charges first dropped, Maresca is in a better place than he could have been to handle the noise - and Guardiola will be on speed-dial for him if he needs him. Once again it will need something to get the fans fully onside though, with the club's insistence on their innocence now disputed by an independent panel.
There will also be no shortage of people willing to stick the boot in regardless of the fact the full picture hasn't yet arrived, and City will have to take it. Or watch some more Cherki videos and hope it goes away.