Maresca sees City unity amid financial case and Ipswich test

Enzo Maresca says Manchester City have grown more united since the club was found guilty of more than 100 breaches of Premier League financial rules. Speaking on Friday, the City manager said he had seen the fans, club and team come closer together as City prepare to host Ipswich on Saturday.

City maintain their innocence and are appealing the verdict, which was delivered by an independent commission. On the pitch, they have won all six of their Premier League matches so far, including a 3-0 victory over 10-man Liverpool at Anfield last week in their first match since the ruling.

City appeal as Maresca urges patience

“I think probably since the noise we can see, I can see from my personal point of view the fans, the club, the team more together for sure,” Maresca said. After the Liverpool win, he had said his side needed to make their own “noise” to drown out distractions away from the pitch.

Maresca’s comments followed a 4-2 Champions League defeat to title-holders Paris Saint-Germain this week. Despite that setback, he was firm in his response to questions about the financial case at Friday’s press conference.

The manager, who has repeatedly expressed his “trust” in the club hierarchy, said he understood why the verdict was attracting attention. He nevertheless said the wise way to judge the situation was to wait for the final words.

“I don’t have any problem with people judging the situation – I think from my point of view the wise way to judge the situation is always to wait for the final words,” he said. “But I can understand that now people need to speak about this situation.”

Ipswich visit offers chance at seventh win

City enter Saturday’s home match against Ipswich three points clear of defending champions Arsenal at the top of the Premier League. Victory would make Maresca the first manager in the competition’s history to win his first seven games in charge.

Pep Guardiola, his celebrated City predecessor, is among those to have recorded six straight wins, a feat he achieved in the 2016/2017 season. Maresca, formerly of Chelsea, said the possible record was not his priority: he wants City to secure the win and reach 21 points.

“These kinds of records, I think they can be good if at the end of the season you achieve something, otherwise, they are not important,” he said. The Ipswich match gives his side an immediate task on the pitch.