Maresca backs Manchester City to win financial breach appeal and insists titles are not tainted

Enzo Maresca has outlined his belief that Manchester City will win their appeal against historical financial breaches.

Manchester City have been found guilty of multiple financial breaches, between 2009 and 2018. An independent commission delivered the verdict during the international break, with the Premier League hailing the verdict.

City were found guilty of 'sham' contracts and sponsorships that artificially inflated revenues to allow for greater spending. City have appealed and deny all wrongdoing.

Maresca spoke to the media for the first time on Friday, ahead of this weekend's clash with Liverpool.

He said he has full confidence that the Cityzens would win their appeal and avoid heavy sanctions.

Enzo Maresca confident Manchester City will overturn verdict: “We are going to win this appeal”

"Again. I understand the reason why most of you are here, but the only thing that I can say is what I said already. That the reason I joined this club is that I completely trust, 100%, the owner, the CEO, the sporting director, all the organisation. So I don't have doubt about that," he said at his pre-match press conference.

"I spoke with the club for sure. We all trust, and probably the right moment to speak about that is when we are going to win this appeal."

Maresca worked as an assistant at Manchester City, prior to his appointment as head coach in the summer. The Italian insisted the titles City have won in recent years are not tainted by the guilty verdict.

"Absolutely not. The last time I was here was the treble season. I know the effort from the players, from the club, from the manager in that time, that was Pep. So I know exactly the effort that the club put to achieve that kind of target. So I don't have any doubt about that."