Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca says the club's titles are absolutely not tainted after they were found guilty of the majority of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League.
Maresca reiterated his faith in the club's owners and his belief that they will win their appeal against the verdict during a news conference on Friday that was dominated by questions on the matter.
The Italian manager, who appeared notably relaxed as he offered his responses, rejected the suggestion that City's titles have been tainted by the ruling, explaining that he knows exactly the effort the club put in to achieve them.
An independent commission previously found Manchester City guilty of all charges relating to breaches of Premier League financial regulations spanning from the 2009-10 to the 2017-18 seasons. The club have since appealed the verdict, claiming in an official statement that the commission's ruling contained clear material errors of law, principle, and fact, making it unsafe.
As the team prepares to play their first match since the verdict was announced—an away fixture against rivals Liverpool on Sunday—Maresca noted in an in-house interview that the feeling remains fantastic among his players, who are not affected by external noise.
Speaking further on Friday, Maresca stated that the primary reason he joined the club was his complete, one-hundred-percent trust in the owner, chief executive officer, sporting director, and the entire organization, leaving him without any doubts.
He mentioned that he had spoken with the club regarding the situation, expressing shared confidence and suggesting that the appropriate time to discuss the matter further will be after they win their appeal.
Maresca concluded by emphasizing that the players and staff can only control the pitch side and the footballing aspects, keeping their focus entirely on what they can manage directly on the field.