Man City takes on Liverpool this weekend with the guilty verdict on the majority of the 115 charges still fresh and Enzo Maresca insisting that nothing will distract his team
Man City manager Enzo Maresca.
Man City manager Enzo Maresca.(Image: Tom Flathers/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)
Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca has dismissed suggestions that his side will be distracted when it plays Liverpool this weekend — playing down the significance Anfield could play in the game.
During the international break, Manchester City was confirmed as being found guilty of the majority of the 115 charges leveled at it by the Premier League. However, Maresca was insistent that nothing has changed for his side as a result.
"I am always concerned," Maresca said in his first press conference since the verdict was given. "I know Anfield is a nice pitch and the reason I came to this club is for this kind of game.
"It will be a tough game for sure, but we need to be ready. The focus has to be in the game. The environment at Anfield is nice, and it will probably be even worse because of this situation.
"Enzo Fernandez, he played in Argentina. Almost every game (there) is like going to Anfield, so it is not a problem."
Maresca, who replaced Pep Guardiola in the summer, went on to say that he would "100 per cent" still have become Manchester City boss even had the findings been published before he took charge.
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Enzo Maresca and Andoni Iraola shake hands.
Enzo Maresca and Andoni Iraola shake hands.(Image: Warren Little/Getty Images)
The Italian also said that the titles that Manchester City had won previously, including when he was an assistant coach, were "absolutely not" tainted.
"The noise is there but the players are relaxed," Maresca added. "They are just thinking about how they will beat Liverpool.
"The last time I was here was the treble season. I know the effort from the players, from the club, from the manager in that time, that was Pep.
"So I know exactly the effort that the club put to achieve that kind of target. So I don't have any doubt about that.
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"I understand the reason why most of you are here. But the only thing I can say is something I already said. That there is a process ongoing and in this moment I totally trust the club. This is what I can say about that."
So far this season, Manchester City has beaten every opponent it has faced. Last time out, it won at Old Trafford against Manchester United despite Phil Foden having been sent off.
Liverpool, meanwhile, is unbeaten under Andoni Iraola. It has drawn three times in the Premier League, however, against Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Fulham.