Maresca defends City's Anfield joy amid financial verdict fallout

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca rejected calls for an apology following the squad’s jubilant reaction to their 3-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday. The emphatic victory occurred just days after an independent commission found the club guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial regulations.

Celebrations draw social media fire

Despite the pending legal ruling, which the club is appealing while maintaining innocence, players and staff joined travelling fans in wild scenes at the final whistle. Images of the open celebration triggered significant backlash across social media platforms, with critics arguing the timing was inappropriate given the severity of the charges against the Citizens.

Maresca questions critics' logic

Speaking ahead of the Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain, Maresca dismissed the narrative surrounding the celebrations. "Criticised for what? We won 0-3 at Anfield. What do you want us to do?" the former Leicester City boss told Sky Sports during his pre-match press duties.

The manager emphasized that his sole focus remains preparing the team for upcoming matches. "I am here today; the players are here today to win tomorrow. We work every day to win games," Maresca stated. He added that external issues must be dealt with separately, noting the genuine happiness felt inside the pitch and dressing room.

Dias backs manager's stance

Club captain Ruben Dias supported his manager’s position when asked about the atmosphere within the group. The Portuguese international, who played a key role in the clean-sheet performance, stood firmly by the decision to celebrate vocally on Merseyside.

"I very much stand by the manager's words. It's a win at Anfield," Dias said. He explained that the team would enjoy victories equally regardless of the season stage or external noise. "If there's more or less noise, for whatever reason, it's all the same... people don't love us winning and we love to win," he noted, describing such reactions as part of competing at the top level.

Squad unity amid off-field distractions

Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, and Rayan Cherki scored the goals that secured the victory, demonstrating the squad’s sharpness despite off-field controversies. Dias acknowledged public perception but reiterated the team’s commitment to pursuing silverware.

"It's a normal scenario where whenever you win, there are people that are not happy with it because they have the same ambition to win," the defender observed, highlighting the competitive nature of the league.