The Maresca City appeal message was clear on Friday: the manager backs the club’s challenge to the financial-rules verdict, and Erling Haaland is fit for Sunday’s Premier League trip to Liverpool.
Speaking on Friday 9th October, the City manager said he trusts the club’s leadership and believes the appeal will succeed. Those comments are his position on the case, not a new ruling or confirmation of its outcome.
Maresca City appeal: what he said
In his first news conference since the verdict, Enzo Maresca kept returning to his confidence in the people running City. Sky Sports reported that he “100 per cent completely trusts” the hierarchy and believes the club will win its appeal.
He also rejected the suggestion that City’s achievements were tainted. Asked about the team’s successes, he answered “absolutely not”. Maresca was an assistant to Pep Guardiola in the 2022/23 treble-winning season.
The BBC’s live coverage records him saying that the players and the manager understand the situation, but that their duty is to focus on winning games. His comments do not announce an appeal hearing date, a decision or a new procedural step.
Haaland ready for Liverpool
Away from the Maresca City appeal, the immediate football news is more definite. City’s official team update says Haaland is fit and available for Anfield.
The striker came off as a precaution during Norway’s UEFA Nations League defeat by Portugal. Maresca said Haaland had since had a few days off and recovered.
“Ready for Anfield. He’s good,” the manager said.
That is confirmation of availability, not a confirmed starting line-up. Phil Foden will miss the trip, with City saying he is still serving a suspension after his sending off in last month’s 1-0 league win at Manchester United.
City return to league action at Anfield
Sunday 11th October’s match, played against the backdrop of the Maresca City appeal, kicks off at 4.30pm UK time. City return from the extended international break with five wins from their first five league games, while Liverpool are also unbeaten, according to the club’s official match preview.
Maresca called it a tough test and said the focus has to be on the game, while accepting that the Anfield atmosphere will probably be harder because of the situation. He added that his players can face the pressure.
The Maresca City appeal comments and the Haaland news are two separate points for supporters: the manager has publicly backed the club’s position in the appeal, and his leading striker is available for the return to league football. The first remains a disputed off-field process. The second is a current squad update for Anfield.
For more on the process, read our report on City lodging the appeal.
Featured photo: Enzo Maresca lifts the Championship trophy at Leicester in 2024. Credit: Timfilbert via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped. Anfield photo: Mike Pennington via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped.
