Man City charges latest: Maresca to speak out for first time since guilty verdict along with Liverpool boss Iraola
Enzo Maresca is set to face the media at a press conference for the first time since his club, Manchester City, were found guilty of breaching the Premier League’s financial rules by an independent commission.
Over the international break, the commission’s verdict that Man City were guilty of 114 rules breaches was announced and the club have since appealled against the decision. City face a trip to Anfield on Sunday in what is expected to be a hostile atmosphere with Liverpool one of the teams most affected by City’s “sham” contracts and disguised funding that amounted to more than £900m over a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018.
Maresca has already reiterated his ‘complete trust’ in the club but has a tricky task in keeping his players’ minds on the game as off-field matters plunge City into crisis.
Elsewhere, Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola will give his thoughts on the game and City’s verdict while Manchester United’s Michael Carrick previews a huge match against Tottenham and Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta speaks after signing a new contract with the club.
Follow all the latest from the Premier League’s press conferences below:
Premier League press conferences live
Enzo Maresca to address media for first time since Man City's guilty verdict for breaching Premier League rules
City face trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool this Sunday with Andoni Iraola also speaking
Mikel Arteta talks after signing new Arsenal contract
Michael Carrick and Roberto de Zerbi preview huge clash between Man Utd and Spurs
Maresca on the feelings of the Man City players
09:12 , Mike Jones
As part of the same interview with Man City’s internal media, Maresca was asked how the players are feeling.
He gave a positive update and claimed that the players are focused on the next few matches rather than any off-field events.
“The feeling is fantastic, to be honest,” Maresca said.
“The players are excited for the next two games. But especially they are excited because in this moment we are top of the league. The players are just focused on that.
“They know what we can control is the football side – they are not worried at all about different things.
"They know their profession and they know that the noise is there, but they don’t care too much about the noise. They are just focused in this moment on how we can bear Liverpool and how, together with the fans, we can try to win in Anfield.”
Premier League press conferences today
09:00 , Mike Jones
There are plenty are updates to come throughout the day alongside Enzo Maresca’s reaction to the Man City verdict.
Each Premier League manager will be asked for their thoughts on the matter with Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler and Fulham’s Alvaro Arbeloa to speak before Maresca.
Then, this afternoon, there’ll be a flurry of press conferences as all of Andoni Iraola, Michael Carrick, Mikel Arteta and Roberto de Zerbi, among others, are due to speak around 1.30pm.
What will Enzo Maresca be asked?
08:56 , Mike Jones
The big press conference today will be Enzo Maresca’s at Manchester City.
Over the international break, City were found guilty of 114 breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules by an independent commission.
Maresca hasn’t spoken to the media since then so he will be asked about the club’s response, his feelings on the matter and probably how the players have reacted to the news as well as how the club are preparing for the contest with Liverpool this Sunday.
Maresca has been consistent in backing City’s stance that they are innocent of the charges but we will see what he has to say this morning.
Good morning!
08:49 , Mike Jones
Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of today’s Premier League press conferences as the managers face the media ahead of the top-flight’s return this weekend.
The big preview concerns Manchester City’s trip to Liverpool especially considering the guilty verdict found by an independent commission into their Premier League rules breaches.
Enzo Maresca will face the media for the first time since the verdict with his press conference due to begin at 10.30 this morning.
We’ll also hear from Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola this afternoon as well as Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, Man Utd’s Michael Carrick and Tottenham’s Roberto de Zerbi.
Follow along with us for all the latest updates from the Premier League’s return.
