On 2025-02-07, Enzo Maresca stood before reporters at a Manchester City press conference. He addressed the club's recent finding of guilt regarding 114 financial infractions, but made clear that his remarks would be limited. He noted that an appeal process was already underway and that he preferred to wait until the club succeeded in that appeal before discussing the matter further. His tone was measured, reflecting a desire to keep the conversation focused on football rather than the ongoing legal proceedings.
The source of the club’s legal trouble was a finding of guilt on 114 financial infractions. Maresca acknowledged the verdict existed, but he did not elaborate on the specifics of the charges, citing the active appeal as the reason for his restraint.
Despite the legal cloud, Maresca expressed unwavering faith in the club’s leadership. He said, in French, "J'ai une confiance totale dans le club," which translates to "I have total confidence in the club." He expanded on this sentiment, stating, "La raison pour laquelle j'ai rejoint ce club, c'est que j'ai une confiance totale, à 100 %, dans les propriétaires, le PDG, le directeur sportif, dans toute l'organisation." In English, this becomes "The reason I joined this club is that I have total confidence, at 100 percent, in the owners, the CEO, the sporting director, in the whole organization." The repetition of "total" and the explicit 100 percent figure were meant to leave no doubt about where his allegiance lay.
He said his primary responsibility was to shield the squad from external distractions and to maintain their focus on winning matches.
Maresca made it clear that his immediate priority was to protect the players from the noise surrounding the case. He said his primary responsibility was to shield the squad from external distractions and to maintain their focus on winning matches. By keeping the team’s attention on training and performance, he aimed to ensure that the legal proceedings would not seep into the dressing room or affect results on the pitch. This stance positioned him as a stabilizing force amid uncertainty.
🗣️ Enzo Maresca asked would he have taken the #MCFC job this summer if the guilty verdict had dropped first? "100 percent. I know the organation from years ago. I know how serious they are. I know they do the right things. I would like to speak about this when we win the appeal." Q: Did you speak about the case when you took the job? "To be honest, no. I think they are convinced that at the end we are going to win the appeal." Q: Have you read the verdict? "I trust the club because I know the people. I promise you, my focus is just on football. I am not thinking about different things because, first of all, I don't understand many things about different things. I just focus on the things I can control, which is the football side."
The manager also emphasized that he would not delve further into the details of the case while the appeal was still active. He declined to provide additional information, explaining that he wanted to wait until the club succeeded in its appeal before speaking more openly. This approach reflects a desire to respect the legal process and to avoid prejudicing any ongoing proceedings. For now, Maresca’s public message remains one of confidence in the club’s leadership and a commitment to keeping the team focused on football.