Enzo Maresca’s first public display since Manchester City were found guilty on virtually all counts of breaching Premier League financial rules was controlled – apart from the sole, and telling, slip-up of his very first answer.
In Thursday’s pre-emptive PR move, the club had Maresca tell their channels that he was aware of the “noise” around City. Fast forward 24 hours, and to a packed media conference of 45 attendees – around a threefold increase on the norm – at the Etihad Campus, the Italian was asked if this was dismissive of the anger felt towards the club’s cheating. “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,” he replied.
This correspondent’s radar bleeped at the use of “in this moment” and, when the microphone was passed, Maresca was quizzed if this meant he may change his mind. “Sorry, that was the wrong answer. I completely trust the club in this moment, in the future, always.” But there was no denying the initial response and how this points to these shaky times for all at City.
Maresca, clearly coached by the club’s media department, maintained a strict party line of “trust” in the veracity of a hierarchy headed by Khaldoon al-Mubarak and Ferran Soriano. And a mention of City’s chair and chief executive, respectively, caused the only intervention from the media officer. When Maresca was asked if al-Mubarak and/or Soriano should have fronted up instead of him, an interjection came that made clear that this was a briefing to preview Sunday’s trip to Anfield. “Don’t forget, it is a Liverpool press conference,” Maresca said.
After being found guilty of the vast majority of more than 100 charges related to breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules by an independent commission, the Premier League’s subsequent statement featured the word “sham” five times to describe City’s malfeasance. This has provoked various derisive memes – “Shamchester City” among them – and heading into Friday’s press conference, the club were concerned such emotive adjectives would be used in the framing of questions to Maresca. That did not occur during a 16-minute briefing, with the lack of the regular embargoed section for a Sunday game understandable given the circumstances.
Maresca, dapper in a bottle-green polo shirt, was smooth and serene when asked about Soriano’s explosive – and arguably desperate – assertion that “surprisingly for us and our lawyers after nearly two years the commission has issued an opinion that supports the Premier League’s conspiracy theory”. Maresca said: “I understand the reason why most of you are here but the only thing I can say is what I said already. The reason why I joined this club is because I completely trust 100% the owner, the CEO, the sport director, and all the organisation. So, I don’t have any doubt about that.”
Maresca also showed a lighter side when quizzed about the wellbeing of Erling Haaland, who had demanded to be replaced during Norway’s last game of the international break. Here, in a reminder of the simpler times before the news broke a fortnight ago, was a straight football question. “Finally,” the Italian said. “He’s good. He went to Marbella, two or three days off, played golf, recovered and prepared for Anfield. He’s good. Thank you. It was good. Also because, again, the players are thinking again. International team, some day off and go again.”
City won at Anfield last season thanks to Haaland’s late penalty. Maresca’s men, who are leaders with a maximum 15 points from the opening five games, can expect a febrile welcome on Sunday. “We need to be ready,” Maresca said. “Not only does the focus have to be about the game, but also we know that the environment in Anfield is nice. It will be even worse because of the situation. But again, it will be our duty to try to do our best and win the game. This is the situation. This is the noise.
“What do we need in Anfield? It’s also the passion from our fans and their voice. And hopefully at the end we can celebrate a good win. I’m always concerned. Not just Liverpool, I would be concerned also about Ipswich. I know that Anfield is a nice pitch, probably will be even more warm in terms of environment but the reason why I decided to be manager is for this kind of game.
“I’m not worried at all. The environment from the players is nice, in this moment we are top of the league, so the players have all the reasons to be happy and excited.”
