Maresca says 'feeling is fantastic' among Man City squad
Enzo Maresma, Manchester City’s head coach, told his squad that the “feeling is fantastic” as they return to training after the Premier League found the club guilty of most of the 115 charges alleging the use of sham contracts to hide more than £830 million in secret funding. The team, which had been away on international duty, reconvened nine days after the damning report and are set to face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, with Maresma urging players to ignore the “noise” and focus on the football, emphasizing that they are currently top of the league and eager for the next two matches.
Maresma’s comments were echoed by striker Erling Haaland, who stressed his personal attachment to the club and called for unity, positivity and enjoyment despite the ongoing crisis. City have lodged an appeal and maintain their innocence, while internal communications to staff have reinforced a calm, trusting atmosphere. The verdict has also prompted reactions from other managers: Nottingham Forest’s Oliver Glasner urged a swift resolution to protect the league’s integrity, whereas Leeds’ Daniel Farke and Newcastle’s Matthias Jaissle avoided detailed remarks, and Coventry’s Frank Lampard, a former City player, suggested that stripped titles would not diminish players’ personal memories of their achievements.
As the Premier League resumes after a three‑week pause, the fallout from the charges is set to dominate pre‑match press conferences, with rival clubs likely to be questioned about the verdict. While no sanctions have yet been imposed, reports indicate limited appetite within the league and its clubs to retroactively strip City of past titles. The situation underscores broader concerns about the competition’s credibility, with stakeholders warning that fan trust could erode if the integrity of the league is perceived to be compromised.
⚡ Effects Interpreter
🌍World Economy
- ▶Trade and investment between countries could shift a little if things escalate.
- ▶International capital can shift direction faster than headlines suggest.
🏙️Local Economy
- ▶Sports tourism can pour money into host-city tills during major events.
- ▶Corner shops near the stadium rarely complain about match-day footfall.
🏦Rates & Banks
- ▶Your monthly repayments are far more likely to hold steady than to spike.
- ▶Borrowing costs may hold steady for now, but they can turn on fresh news.
❤️Health
- ▶Getting swept up in the occasion is part of what makes sport special.
- ▶Sport typically nudges people towards a more active week.
💷Wealth
- ▶A quiet review of where your savings sit rarely does any harm.
- ▶Long-term savers usually ride out these slight bumps just fine.
🏠Housing
- ▶Regional differences mean this may be felt unevenly across the property market.
- ▶Mortgage deals might edge around if lenders read the wider mood.