Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has shown his full support for the football club amid the ongoing situation surrounding the Premier League and their guilty verdict issued last month.
Who should be Man City's back-up striker to Erling Haaland?More Videos
Manchester City return to competitive duties this weekend after a three-week international break that has largely brought all of their first-team squad back to the City Football Academy unscathed on the fitness and injury front.
Enzo Maresca is expected to provide an update on the state of play regarding his squad when he addresses the media in his pre-match press conference on Friday morning, looking ahead to the weekend's action away to Liverpool at Anfield.
However, given events off the field concerning Manchester City coming to light over the last fortnight, there is every possibility that the Italian will instead be forced to discuss matters away from the action.
The Premier League issued the findings of an independent commission, which had concluded that City had been found guilty of breaching the English top-flight's financial regulations and rules over a period stretching from 2009 to 2018.
Manchester City's first-team stars have returned to training at the City Football Academy for the first time since the club's guilty verdict issued by the Premier League.cityxtra.co.ukErling Haaland and Enzo Maresca Spotted Returning to Man City Training After Premier League Verdict
Manchester City's first-team stars have returned to training at the City Football Academy for the first time since the club's guilty verdict issued by the Premier League.
The allegation is predominantly that in such timeframe, Manchester City had artificially inflated their commercial revenues by almost £830 million, thus enabling a continued investment in their playing squad.
Despite the findings, City have continued to strenuously deny what they describe as an 'opinion' of the 'Premier League commission', and have since lodged a 'comprehensive appeal' supported by a body of 'irrefutable' evidence that what ultimately clear their name.
On Thursday afternoon, the vast majority of Manchester City's first-team squad returned to the City Football Academy for training, and with that has come the first opportunities to address the events of the last few weeks.
Haaland: "Stick together, enjoy the ride, and smile"
Speaking in a new interview ahead of Manchester City's trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, the club's vice-captain Erling Haaland was asked whether he had a message for the club's supporters during a testing time for the organisation off the field.
“I think they [the fans travelling to Anfield on Sunday] are gonna have a good time," said Haaland. "We have to stick together. We have to stay with each other, and we have to stay positive. No matter what happens in life, we always have to have a smile."
The Manchester City striker continued, "We have to stay positive, look ahead and try to win football games and try to enjoy the situation and win the game.
"We have to stick together, and we have to spread the love to each other. So yeah, stick together, enjoy the ride and smile.”
Manchester City will welcome Pep Guardiola back to the Etihad Stadium much sooner than many would have expected, with the Catalan legend set for his return next week.cityxtra.co.ukPep Guardiola to Return to Man City in Show of Support After Premier League Verdict
Manchester City will welcome Pep Guardiola back to the Etihad Stadium much sooner than many would have expected, with the Catalan legend set for his return next week.
I care a lot about Manchester City, says Haaland
Continuing on his personal ties to Manchester and England as a whole through his family, Haaland was further quizzed on how much care he has for both City as a club, and the country as a whole.
“I care a lot about this place – the UK generally," the 26-year-old admitted. "My mother as well [as my father], they lived here for ten years – they lived in Nottingham and Leeds."
Haaland continued, "They never lived in Manchester, but obviously my father trained over at Carrington every day. I spent my first four years here, my brother nine and my sister six, so it’s a special place for us.
"I care a lot about City, I have to say. I care a lot about the fans because I’m a fan myself - I feel with them as well.”
The state of play for Man City on the pitch
Given the discourse and lines of reporting over the last few weeks, it has been almost entirely forgotten that Manchester City find themselves in a hugely promising position across all competitions after the first international break of the campaign.
Across the course of their first seven matches in all competitions, City have managed to record seven wins to sit top of the Premier League table by a two-point margin, into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, and winning their opening Champions League clash.
Beyond the clash with Liverpool on Merseyside, Enzo Maresca and his players will then welcome Paris Saint-Germain to the Etihad Stadium on matchday two of the Champions League - a game in which former manager Pep Guardiola is due to be in attendance.
The Catalan icon confirmed he would travel to the contest on Wednesday night, in what will no doubt be viewed as a strong show of support for his former colleagues and club, as he takes a seat alongside the likes of chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and the board.