Maresca says Man City have grown closer as a club since 115 guilty verdict

Enzo Maresca says Manchester City have emerged from the 115 charges verdict as a tighter, more motivated group, with the controversy galvanising a squad that could move six points clear at the top of the Premier League with a win over Ipswich Town on Saturday.

The guilty verdict, published three weeks ago, cast City as the pariahs of English football, but Maresca has seen the opposite effect inside the club. CEO Ferran Soriano addressed the players on their return from the international break, while captain Ruben Dias reinforced the message in the dressing room — telling team-mates that people have never wanted City to win, but that winning is precisely their job.

“There is noise around the club but we need to try and make our noise and that means win at Anfield and to try to win tomorrow against Ipswich,” Maresca said. “This is the way we can make our noise. This different kind of noise, we are not able to control that.”

City underlined that mentality last weekend with a 3-0 victory at Anfield, a result that drew further scrutiny after the squad celebrated emphatically with travelling supporters. Maresca had instructed his players to channel external pressure into performance, and the Anfield win was the clearest expression of that approach so far.

“I think Ruben said that people don’t like City winning but we like to win,” Maresca added. “I think that it’s a good message for everyone. Since the noise, I can see from my personal point of view the fans, the club, the team more together — but we will see.”

City supporters have also made their presence felt, with inflatable bananas appearing in the stands during both the Liverpool and PSG fixtures — a pointed response to the criticism directed at the club.

Arsenal, currently second, travel to Nottingham Forest on Sunday, while third-placed Brighton host Crystal Palace on the same day, meaning the full picture at the top of the table will not be clear until the weekend’s fixtures are complete.