Erling Haaland has urged Manchester City to stick together ‘no matter what happens in life’ in the wake of the eye-popping guilty verdict for breaching financial rules.
City’s first assignment since the judgment was passed down is a trip to Anfield where old foes Liverpool wait with the world watching.
Enzo Maresca’s squad were back training on Thursday, with the club having appealed the independent commission’s verdict, and Haaland moved to motivate his team mates.
‘We have to stick together, we have to stay with each other and we have to stay positive,’ Haaland said.
‘No matter what happens in life we always have to have a smile. We have to stay positive, look ahead and try to win football games and then try to enjoy the situation and win the game.
‘We have to stick together and we have to spread the love to each other. Stick together and enjoy the ride and smile. I care a lot about City and the fans because I’m a fan myself, I feel with them as well.’
Erling Haaland has urged Manchester City to ‘enjoy the ride’ following their guilty verdict
Manager Enzo Maresca was the first to arrive at training this morning and he similarly gave waiting photographers the thumbs-up
City’s players will be barracked up and down the country for the remainder of this season after it was found the club had artificially inflated commercial revenue with ‘sham’ contracts worth £830million from Abu Dhabi-based companies.
Liverpool being their next opponent is poetic, with Jurgen Klopp having run Pep Guardiola so close in numerous different seasons and the antagonism between the two boardrooms.
Haaland netted a stoppage-time penalty to secure victory there last season and added: ‘It’s always special to play against Liverpool – especially with Pep and Klopp.
‘I remember sitting in Molde, Salzburg and Dortmund and watching the games and how much they pushed each other.
‘I won there, drew there and lost, so it’s always special. Every Premier League game is different and every game against Liverpool has been special.’
Meanwhile, Real Madrid boss and fierce City critic Jose Mourinho does not expect a conclusion or sanctions around the case any time soon.
‘I’d rather laugh a little bit because I think that we are yet to have a final decision,’ he told Corriere dello Sport. ‘There will be a final decision, but I’m in my 60s and will be lucky to be here when that final sentence comes.’
The majority of Maresca’s squad spent time on international duty during the break, with the manager himself only returning to the Etihad Stadium on Monday ahead of meeting up with his group for the first time.
Man City lodged their appeal against the charges, which found that the club had artificially inflated commercial revenues by over £830million between 2009 and 2018, last Thursday evening.
Marc Guehi kept a low profile as he drove into Man City’s training ground for the first time since September
The independent commission came to their decision over three years after the Premier League first brought charges against the club, with its 10-week hearing taking place in late 2024.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters claimed in a statement released alongside the bombshell core decision that the club ‘systemically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade’ with their use of ‘sham’ contracts.
The club also repeatedly breached duties of ‘co-operation and utmost good faith towards the League’ by failing to help with the investigation. In the core decision, the independent commission deemed evidence given by a number of Man City’s witnesses called on behalf of the club to have been ‘untrue’ and ‘dishonest’.
If Man City fail in their appeal, they will face severe sanctions which could include expulsion from the Premier League, future points deductions, stripping of titles and transfer bans.
But goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma’s agent Enzo Raiola revealed the Italian – and likely his team-mates – was been given assurances by the club, who still insist on their innocence in the wake of the damning verdict by the independent commission.
He told Radio Napoli Centrale, per Calciomercato: ‘Can the Manchester City chaos change anything? No, it won’t change anything for us or for Gigio. News comes out periodically.
‘The club has spoken to Gigio, and everyone is calm. Now there are important matches against Liverpool and PSG, and then sporting justice will take its course. But Gigio has received reassurances from Manchester City.’
Ahead of Sunday’s return to Premier League action, Daily Mail Sport reported on Wednesday that Merseyside Police are braced for fan trouble with some Liverpool fans preparing a hostile ‘welcome’ for Man City’s team bus.
One social media post is advertising a ‘Bus Greeting’ around two hours before the 4.30pm kick-off on Anfield Road.
Fans are asked to bring ‘flags, banners, pyros, flares, kopparbergs’. A wink emoji is placed after Kopparberg, which is a popular cider served in a bottle.
Josko Gvardiol returned to Manchester after facing off with England for Croatia at Wembley
Summer signing Elliot Anderson arrived around lunchtime after returning from England duty
Antoine Semenyo and Ayyoub Bouaddi were also on parade as they returned to their club
Police are aware of the poster and have said that they will have ‘an appropriate policing plan in place’.
Next Wednesday, City will play their first game at the Etihad since they were found guilty and Pep Guardiola will be in attendance in a show of solidarity.
The former manager, who left the club at the end of last season, previously shared a message of support for his ex-employers, telling fans: ‘We will get through this together. I love you all.’
Guardiola will be joined at the Etihad Stadium by the City board, including chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, for the club’s first home European match since his summer departure.