Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has spoken out for the first time since the Premier League issued the findings of an independent commission detailing breaches of the English top-flight's financial rules over an extended period.
What next in Manchester City's season?More Videos
Manchester City have returned to the City Football Academy following the first international break of the campaign, resuming training ground duties ahead of Premier League football on Sunday afternoon.
It is also the first time that Enzo Maresca and his City squad have come together since the Premier League issued the findings of an independent commission looking into alleged breaches of the top-flight's financial rules.
Last month, it was confirmed by the English top-flight that Manchester City had been found guilty of the majority of their initial 115 charges, artificially inflating commercial revenues by around £830 million between 2009 and 2018 in particular.
However, in light of that verdict, Manchester City and key club officials such as chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and chief executive officer Ferran Soriano have stood firm on their belief that the organisation's name will be cleared through a body of 'irrefutable' evidence currently available.
City have lodged a 'comprehensive' appeal, which league rules state should conclude in the space of 12 weeks, while manager Enzo Maresca has now been handed his first opportunity to speak on events of the last fortnight in particular.
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.cityxtra.co.ukErling Haaland Offers Full Support and Allegiance to Man City Amid Guilty Premier League Verdict
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.
Maresca: "I'm very calm, to be honest!"
Addressing Manchester City's official club website in an extended interview ahead of the return to action against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, Enzo Maresca insisted on his feeling of "calm" despite the "noise" around the club.
"I'm very calm, to be honest. The club has been quite clear. We trust, completely, the club," Maresca told Manchester City's website.
He continued, "So we understand the noise, but the focus for us is just what we can control, and we can control just the football side."
How are Man City's player feeling?
The subject of Manchester City's players was also put to Enzo Maresca, with some reports going as far as to suggest that questions have been put to representatives of some stars regarding their now-uncertain futures.
"The feeling is fantastic, to be honest! The players are excited for the next two games," Maresca revealed. "But especially because, in this moment, we are top of the league, so the players are just focussed on that."
The City coach continued, "They know what we can control; the football side. They're not worried at all about different things. They are professional, they know that the noise is there but they don't care too much about the noise.
"They're just focussed on, in this moment, how we can beat Liverpool, with the fans, and try win at Anfield."
A huge two games coming up for Manchester City
Starting with a testing trip to Merseyside to take on Andoni Iraola's Liverpool, Manchester City are looking to maintain their exemplary start to the 2026/27 season, in which they have won all of their Premier League games so far.
The trip to Anfield poses a very different challenge, however, not least due to the fact that a hostile environment is expected to welcome City as Liverpool supporters have their first opportunity to react themselves to the Manchester club's recent guilty verdict.
Merseyside Police say they have an "appropriate" policing strategy in place for the clash at Anfield, amid social media posts circulating pointing towards a 'Bus Greeting' for Manchester City two hours before kick-off on Anfield Road.
Beyond the weekend's duties, Manchester City then take on the reigning champions of Europe at the Etihad Stadium, as Paris Saint-Germain are the opponents on matchday two of the UEFA Champions League - a fixture due to see Pep Guardiola in attendance.