Enzo Maresca has made a confident statement about Manchester City's ongoing Premier League financial-rules appeal, insisting he wants to discuss the controversy “when we win the appeal”.
The City manager has publicly backed the club following an independent commission's guilty verdict, while maintaining that his focus remains on football ahead of Sunday's meeting with Liverpool at Anfield.
Enzo Maresca has made it clear that he believes Manchester City will successfully challenge the verdict against them in the Premier League's financial-rules case.
Speaking to the media on Friday, the Italian repeatedly referred to the appeal in confident terms, making his position clear when asked about the consequences of the ruling.
“I would like to speak about this when we win the appeal,” Maresca said.
His choice of words was significant. Rather than discussing potential punishments in detail, the City manager focused on the outcome he expects the club to achieve.
However, his confidence should not be mistaken for an official decision. Manchester City's appeal remains ongoing, and the final outcome has yet to be determined.
The controversy follows a major ruling by an independent Premier League commission concerning alleged financial-rule breaches during the period between the 2009–10 and 2017–18 seasons.
Manchester City were found guilty of multiple charges relating to financial reporting and associated commercial arrangements. The commission also found the club guilty of failing to cooperate with parts of the investigation.
City have consistently denied wrongdoing and strongly disputed the findings.
The club formally lodged its appeal on October 1, arguing that the commission's opinion contains significant errors of law, principle and fact.
The appeal will be considered by an independent three-member board. Until that process is completed, the ultimate consequences for City remain uncertain.
Beyond his comments about winning the appeal, Maresca offered a strong defence of Manchester City's leadership.
The former Leicester City manager said he completely trusts the club and the people running it, explaining that this confidence was part of the reason he accepted the managerial position.
“There is not another club in the world where I would like to be,” he said.
Maresca also rejected suggestions that City's achievements should be viewed differently because of the verdict.
Asked whether the club's honours had been tainted, he answered emphatically: “Absolutely not.”
He pointed to his own experience as an assistant coach during City's historic 2022–23 treble-winning campaign, saying he had seen the effort invested by the players, manager and club.
His comments underline the position he has chosen to take publicly: support the club, trust the appeal process and concentrate on the football.
The appeal matters because the potential consequences of the case could be significant.
Possible sanctions discussed in connection with the proceedings include a points deduction, financial penalties and other sporting punishments. More severe outcomes, including expulsion from the Premier League, have also been raised.
However, no final punishment should be presented as inevitable while the appeal remains unresolved.
City are seeking to overturn the commission's findings, and the independent appeal board must consider the club's arguments before the process reaches a conclusion.
Maresca declined to speculate at length about what might happen if the appeal fails, instead challenging the premise of the questions by asking what would happen if City won.
For the manager, the preferred outcome is clear. He believes the club will succeed, but the legal process—not his prediction—will determine the result.
The financial controversy arrives just as Manchester City prepare to return to Premier League action against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
It is a significant fixture for both sides, and Maresca has insisted that his players remain focused on their performances rather than the noise surrounding the case.
City have made a strong start to the league campaign and are aiming to maintain their momentum despite the scrutiny facing the club.
Maresca acknowledged the attention surrounding the verdict but stressed that the squad's responsibility is to concentrate on what happens on the pitch.
The Liverpool match will therefore test the team's ability to manage an intense football occasion while questions about the club's future continue to dominate the headlines.
Maresca's comments represent a firm public show of support for Manchester City at a difficult moment.
His repeated use of the phrase “when we win the appeal” shows that he expects the club's challenge to succeed. His defence of City's achievements also makes clear that he does not believe the verdict should diminish what the team has accomplished.
But confidence and confirmation are two different things.
The appeal has not yet been decided, and the final outcome will determine what happens next in one of the most consequential disciplinary cases in Premier League history.
For now, Maresca is standing behind his club and preparing his team for Liverpool.
Whether his confidence is ultimately justified remains to be seen.
