Arabic version: ماريسكا يكرر نهج الثقة في سيتي قبل رحلة أنفيلد

According to The Guardian, Enzo Maresca maintained a tightly controlled public message at a Manchester City media conference following the club being found guilty on virtually all counts of breaching Premier League financial rules. The briefing at the Etihad Campus drew 45 attendees, about three times the usual number, and lasted 16 minutes.

Maresca had referred to the “noise” around City in a club media appearance on Thursday. Asked about that wording at Friday’s conference, he said: “I understand the reason why most of you are here but the only thing I can say is that there is a process ongoing and in this moment I completely trust the club.”

When questioned on his use of “in this moment”, Maresca said it had been “the wrong answer” and added: “I completely trust the club in this moment, in the future, always.” He said he joined City because he trusted “100% the owner, the CEO, the sport director, and all the organisation,” referring to the hierarchy headed by chair Khaldoon al-Mubarak and chief executive Ferran Soriano.

A media officer intervened when Maresca was asked whether al-Mubarak or Soriano should have addressed the media. The manager said the session was intended to preview Sunday’s trip to Liverpool. City are top of the league with 15 points from five games and won at Anfield last season through Erling Haaland’s late penalty.

Maresca said Haaland was fit after taking two or three days off in Marbella, where he played golf, recovered and prepared for the match. On the expected atmosphere at Anfield, Maresca said City needed to be ready and that the environment could be “even worse because of the situation”, while insisting he was not worried and that his players were happy and excited.