Enzo Maresca spent much of Friday answering questions about City‘s financial case, but Sunday’s trip to Liverpool is now looming large.
The City boss has discussed the prospect of relegation and rejected suggestions that the club’s trophies are tainted, while Erling Haaland has called for unity. There has also been fresh analysis of City’s revenue growth during the period covered by the case.
Here is our 7pm round-up of the latest Man City news for Friday, 9 October.
Haaland and Maresca call for City unity
Erling Haaland and Maresca have both called for unity following the guilty verdict, with the striker urging supporters to stick with the team.
Maresca has taken a similar position. He says he trusts the club and wants his players concentrating on football, with City top of the Premier League after winning their opening five games.
Former manager Pep Guardiola has also spoken about sticking together since the verdict, leaving a fairly consistent message from some of the biggest names associated with the club.
Maresca addresses relegation talk and City’s trophies
Maresca faced several questions about what could happen if City’s appeal fails during his press conference on Friday. Asked whether he would remain at the club in the event of relegation, Maresca joked about potentially managing in League One, referring to his Championship title with Leicester City before pointing out that he was being asked about something which may never happen.
He was also asked whether the verdict had changed his view of City’s previous success. Maresca dismissed the suggestion that the club’s trophies are tainted, replying “absolutely not”. Maresca was part of Guardiola’s staff when City won the Treble in 2022/23 and spoke about the work involved in that season.
Man City revenue figures come under scrutiny
The Athletic has continued its examination of City’s finances, this time looking at the growth in the club’s revenue. Its analysis claims City would have ranked 10th rather than fifth for revenue in 2017/18 if £135million it describes as “disguised funding” was removed from the figures.
City recorded revenue of £87million in 2008/09, around a quarter of Real Madrid’s figure. Nine years later, their revenue was equivalent to 75 per cent of Real’s and they ranked fifth among football’s highest earners. City dispute the findings against them and have appealed.
Haaland available for Liverpool trip
Maresca also confirmed that Haaland is available for Sunday’s game at Anfield following some concern over his condition during the international break.
The striker has scored five times in City’s opening five Premier League games and also found the net in all three meetings with Liverpool last season. City do have other selection issues. Phil Foden is suspended, while Antoine Semenyo and Nico O’Reilly have been dealing with fitness problems.
Anfield next for unbeaten City
Our Liverpool v Man City preview looks at the main talking points ahead of Sunday’s game.
City have won all five of their Premier League matches under Maresca, while Liverpool went into the international break unbeaten in seven games in all competitions.
Anfield represents a considerable step up from much of what City have faced so far this season. After a week spent discussing events away from the pitch, Maresca and his players now have a rather more immediate problem to deal with.
