Manchester City

Maresca on if there are any bigger tests than Liverpool away:

"Yeah it will be a tough game, Liverpool, for sure. A test, as you said. We need to be ready, the focus needs to be about the game but we know the environment in Anfield. It probably will be worse because of the situation, but again it will be our duty to do our best and try to win the game."

Has he got any doubts about the players after Old Trafford?

"Absolutely they can face the pressure, absolutely. We have players that they already experience similar situations. Enzo Fernandez, he's playing in Argentina. In Argentina it's almost every game to go to Anfield. So it's not a problem.

Manchester City

Maresca on if he's read the verdict himself:

"I trust the club, because I know the people but I promise you that my focus is just about football.

"I'm not thinking about different things, first of all because I don't understand many things about different things so I just focus on the things I can control and that is the football side."

Manchester City

More from Enzo Maresca: "No, you cannot avoid [this situation]. We understand, we completely understand the situation. I'm not saying we don't understand that. We understand, the players understand, but it's our duty... because the manager, the players it's our focus to win games. Not about something different." If the appeal is lost, what happens in your head then?

"What if the appeal is won? It is the same, I don't know. We are predicting the future. Again, you know I'm worried about tomorrow, in two-three days, I don't know what's happening in the future. The only thing I can say today is that I think it's fair that from my point of you, from all of us, to respect the process. The process, OK, verdict, there is an appeal ongoing, we see what happens."

City fans would like you to stay if you lose the appeal. Pep joked about managing in League One, City fans would like you to say the same.

"I won the Championship with Leicester. So League One, we are going to see. But again, we are thinking about something we don't know."

Thomas Tuchel said he was worried about the psychological effect on the Manchester City players. Have you talked to the players about what it might be like for the rest of the season?

"Viewing the environment, inside the last few days, inside the building, no I'm not worried at all. The environment is from the players, is nice. In this moment we are top of the league so the players have all the reason to be happy and excited."

Manchester City

Maresca is also asked whether when he was talking to the club about taking the job did anyone bring the charges into the conversation?

"No. No to be honest. We didn't speak about that because I don't think it was a problem for the club at the time and I think they are are thinking in an honest way, I think they are convinced that in the end we are going to win the appeal."

On Erling Haaland's fitness: "Thank you, finally. He's good, he went to Marbella, two or three days off, played golf, recovery. Ready for Anfield, he is good."

How was it to see him again?

"It was good, The players hey are thinking, International team, time off, go again, so it was good."

When you played you were interviewed as part of the Calciopoli investigations. Can you help the players now, from that time?

"It's a quite different situation, again the focus for me in that time, that's why I'm saying the players are thinking about how they can train, how they can get better, focus on the game. But they are different situations."

Manchester City

Maresca is asked if he remembers how Guardiola and his staff handled the charges first being announced in February, 2023. He says:

"Exactly the same way just try to manage the noise, because we understand the seriousness of the situation, we understand the noise completely 100% it's something serious. But at the same time we need to manage that and we need to focus on what we can do and we can control and we can prepare for the game in the best way and go to Anfield and win the game."

If the commissions findings had been published before you decided to join City, would you have still agreed to become the manager?

"100%".

Can I ask Why?

"I know the organisation 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."

Manchester City

More from Maresca:

You were here in 2022-23 when the chargers were first announced, then the team went on to win the treble, how did you use that news to rally everyone together?

"In this moment it's also a matter of be together, stick, together as Erling [Haaland] said yesterday, it is true. In this moment it is a matter of this is the situation, this is the noise, but the most important thing is we should continue to do the right things. We are on the same page with the owners, players, CEO, sport directors, the fans. What we need is the passion from our fans, their voice and hopefully at the end we can celebrate a good win."

Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias, as vice captain and captain, can they help to keep carry the dressing room?

"They need to help their teammates and they are doing that. But again I understand that you want to hear or listen to different words from me, but the real words is that the players, the noise is there but they are 20, 25 years old, they enjoy their training, they go home happy, they are top of the league, so they are relaxed. They are just thinking about how to beat Liverpool and hopefully we are going to try."

Manchester City

A journalists points out to Maresca that in May 2022, Guardiola said the moment he realises the club has lied to him, he would walk away.

Maresca is then asked if the same would be for him:

"I just said, I would like to speak about this situation when we win the appeal. Now is no sense to speak about anything because I don't have many information, but I understand the reason why most of you are here, because most of you want to hear something. But no."

Should the chairman or Ferran Soriano be sat here instead of you?

Press officer: "This is the Liverpool presser."

Manchester City

Maresca on if he has spoken to Pep in the last few days:"I spoke with Pep the last time after Manchester United game, after the derby. That was the last time I spoke with Pep. But I know that he is coming on Tuesday."

How much does it mean to know he's got Guardiola's backing?

"It's always a pleasure. After 10 years time he can come any time he wants. Not just for game, for training session, at any moment. It will be nice for him, it will be nice for the fans, for everyone.

On that last answer Maresca was jokingly pointing out a journalist who had just asked about the charges.

The journalist seemed to see the funny side of it.

Only one or two questions to Maresca were not about City's guilty verdict.

Manchester City

Maresca on if he shares the view of Manchester City chief executive officer Ferran Soriano that there is a conspiracy against the club by the Premier League:

"Again. I understand the reason why most of you are here, but the only thing that I can say is what I said already. That the reason I joined this club is that I completely trust, 100%, the owner, the CEO, the sporting director, all the organisation. So I don't have doubt about that.

Has he had any personal assurances from Sheikh Mansour?

"I spoke with the club for sure. We all trust, and probably the right moment to speak about that is when we are going to win this appeal."

Has he had any concerns about Sunday and the febrile atmosphere?

"It is the first time I saw your face here. So we don't know each other. But if you ask the guys that are here I'm always concerned, not just Liverpool, I will also be concerned about Ipswich. I know that Anfield is a nice pitch, probably will even more warm in terms of environment but the reason I decide to become manager is for this kind of game."

Manchester City

Maresca on if City's achievements under Pep Guardiola look different now:

"Absolutely not. The last time I was here was the treble season. I know the effort from the players, from the club, from the manager in that time, that was Pep. So I know exactly the effort that the club put to achieve that kind of target. So I don't have any doubt about that."

So they don't feel tainted to you?

"Absolutely not."

Do you feel sympathy towards your current crop of players? They will be taking flak for the rest of the season.

"I said already, for me, the players. We can control just the pitch side, the football side. So we are focused on that, this is what we can do and what we can control. Not control something different.

Manchester City

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca: "First of all morning. I understand the reason why most of you are here. But the only thing I can say is something I already said. That there is a process ongoing and in this moment I totally trust the club. This is what I can say about that." Why do you trust the club? And if you are relegated would you stay?

"First of all I trust the club because I trust the people. So that is why I joined the club. And then there is not another club where I would try to be. So I'm very happy to be here, I'm very proud since day one. So this is myself."

And with that, the news conference finishes. We'll get the full quotes to you as quick as we can.

But the key responses are Enzo Maresca consistently saying he trusts the club, believes they will win their appeal and that City's titles are not tainted.

Manchester City

Maresca says this situation is very different to the Calciopoli scandal and doesn't see many comparisons.

Manchester City

Asked if the committee's findings had been published before he had joined whether he still would have, Maresca says "100%".

He says that's because he knows the club so well from before and that when he took the job he did not ask about the charges.

Manchester City

Maresca is asked about team news. He says Erling Haaland is fine to play at Anfield.

Manchester City

He says the club understand the seriousness of the situation, but again insists the focus is on City's next match.

Manchester City

Maresca adds, "yes the noise is there but the players are relaxed.

"They are just thinking how they will beat Liverpool."

Manchester City

Asked if he will be City manager no matter what, Maresca says he "won the Championship with Leicester, so if we go down to League One, we will see".

Manchester City

Asked what he would do if Manchester City were to lose their appeal, Maresca replies with "But what will we do if Manchester City win?"