Enzo Maresca has called for 'many bananas' at the Etihad Stadium for Manchester City’s Premier League clash with Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon following the recent guilty verdict that went against the club.
Man City can return to winning ways against Ipswich Town at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.More Videos
Manchester City were found guilty on 114 of 115 charges relating to serious breaches of financial rules and failing to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigation.
The club have since lodged an appeal, and a new independent commission has 12 weeks to conduct a second hearing where, if the original verdict is upheld, City could find themselves in deep trouble.
Having already struggled to retain credibility for their historic rise since their historic takeover in 2008, City could find themselves sanctioned with a substantial fine, a lengthy transfer embargo or relegation via an insurmountable points deduction.
Despite the charges, Maresca, alongside Erling Haaland, has shown full support for the club while awaiting the outcome of the appeal, and it doesn’t seem to have had a detrimental effect on his side’s performances.
So far this season, Manchester City have beaten Manchester United, Sunderland and Liverpool, while putting up a considerably impressive fight against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, a performance that led Luis Enrique to call his side’s victory lucky.
My kids will be at the Ipswich Town game and asked me for bananas: Maresca
Maresca revealed on Friday that all four of his children will be at the game on Saturday afternoon as he hopes to extend Manchester City’s lead at the top of the Premier League table.
And after being asked about the inflatable bananas that were on show during City’s away trip to Liverpool last weekend, the 46-year-old said: “Very nice. I didn't know the history behind the banana. I hope tomorrow I can see many bananas in the stadium.
"I think it's created a nice environment for the fans and for everyone in the stadium. I have four kids [and] they already asked me [for one]. Tomorrow they're going to be at the stadium - and we'll see.”
In their first game since being found guilty of the major financial breaches, City fans brought the bananas back to inject humour into an otherwise serious situation.
At Anfield, Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki all scored on an injury-hit Liverpool team to inflict a heavy defeat on Andoni Iraola’s side, a win that conveyed signs of defiance and tenacity under tough circumstances.
What do the inflatable bananas Man City fans are bringing to game signify?
The increasing number of bananas that filled the away end on Merseyside attracted many questions across the footballing world as to what the meaning is behind them.
To provide a sense of humour and fun in games during the 1980s after a rough patch on the pitch, a Manchester City fan took an inflatable banana to a game to cheer on City’s hero Imre Varadi, whom some fans dubbed “Imre Banana”.
The trend eventually exploded in the late 80s, and now, amidst the staggering number of charges brought against them, City fans have revived the craze.
Varadi, who is now 67 years of age and runs a business selling the inflatables, was invited by the club as a VIP guest for the Ipswich game and noted that the demand for these bananas had skyrocketed since the guilty verdict was announced.