Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has said Manchester City are deserving winners of their trophies and should be allowed to keep them. He made the comments on Tuesday, ahead of PSG’s Champions League match against City, even though the English club faces sanctions after being found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules.
Enrique urges patience over City sanctions
Asked about the verdict, Enrique said it was necessary to respect the process and wait for the final decision. He stressed that other authorities were responsible for that call, but added that, judging only by football and what he had seen on the pitch, City had earned those trophies. The Spanish coach spoke amid speculation that titles won during the period under scrutiny could be removed.
Premier League findings and possible punishments
The Premier League said City had used “sham” commercial contracts as part of schemes to inflate revenue and understate costs by more than 900 million pounds ($1.19bn). City have denied wrongdoing throughout the case and have appealed the verdict. Possible punishments range from fines and a points deduction to relegation and the potential loss of titles.
Enrique praised the way City play football and said the final decision should be awaited. “I hope they can avoid that sanction,” he said.
Guardiola’s return and Maresca’s strong start
Former City boss Pep Guardiola, who left the club in May, is set to return to the Etihad for the match, which City host on Wednesday. Enrique is a close friend and former Barcelona teammate of Guardiola. Enzo Maresca has made a flawless start since succeeding him, winning all eight games in all competitions.
Enrique dismissed suggestions that the fixture could set an early marker for either side. “January is when you can really see the team’s level,” he said, adding that many teams change in the months that follow. He described the game as an interesting and fun one to watch.
