Enzo Maresca has been in charge of Manchester City for a matter of months, having succeeded Pep Guardiola this summer
Enzo Maresca posted a nine-word message on Instagram roughly an hour before reports emerged that Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations.
However, Maresca’s comments appear entirely unrelated to the explosive allegations which sent shockwaves through the football world on Friday afternoon.
The Italian manager has only been in charge of City since this summer, taking over from Pep Guardiola.
Yet Maresca has succeeded in producing remarkable results on the field, with City perched at the top of the Premier League table following five matches, securing victory in each of their opening five encounters to date.
And seemingly contemplating his efforts in Greater Manchester, Maresca turned to social media to share a message with his supporters on Friday. Posting an image of his bare feet touching grass, he wrote: “Time to breathe. Time to analyse. Time to learn.”
He also posted a quote by Socrates which stated: “The only thing I know is that I know nothing,” accompanied by pictures of his residence and a gathering with mates.
Maresca’s post did, though, arrive roughly an hour before the Premier League discovered the result of Manchester City’s outstanding 115 charges case.
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The club have been reportedly declared guilty of all but one of those charges and will now face punishment from the EFL following a lengthy and protracted saga lasting three years.
City are expected to challenge the ruling, given they have repeatedly denied any misconduct. A spokesperson for the club said: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality.
“As such, Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the Club’s statement of February 2023. The Club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”
While it remains unclear precisely what sanctions the league will impose upon City, given that no club in history has committed the sheer volume of violations which City have, potential penalties could encompass points deductions, substantial fines and transfer embargoes.
More severe punishments could also feature relegation from the Premier League and the club being stripped of all their titles between 2009 and 2018, when the alleged violations occurred.