Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca has moved to steady his squad in the wake of the club's Premier League charges verdict, insisting the mood in training is buoyant and that his players are refusing to be distracted by the turmoil surrounding the club.

City's international players returned to the training ground on Thursday, nine days after the Premier League published its damning findings. The report concluded that the club had used "sham" contracts to conceal secret payments totalling more than £830m — a ruling that led to the club being found guilty of the majority of the 115 charges brought against it.

Maresca's message to the squad

Maresca addressed his players on their return from international duty, urging them not to let the ongoing crisis derail their concentration as the Premier League season resumes this weekend. The City boss spoke openly about the atmosphere inside the camp ahead of Sunday's trip to Anfield to face Liverpool (16:30 BST).

"The feeling is fantastic, to be honest," Maresca said in an in-house interview. "The players are excited for the next two games. But especially they are excited because in this moment we are top of the league. The players are just focused on that."

He added that his squad understands the limits of what they can control. "They know what we can control is the football side — they are not worried at all about different things. They know their profession and they know that the noise is there, but they don't care too much about the noise. They are just focused in this moment on how we can beat Liverpool and how, together with the fans, we can try to win in Anfield."

Maresca also said he felt "calm" and that his players trust the club "completely." City have launched an appeal and continue to publicly maintain their innocence.

Haaland calls for unity

Striker Erling Haaland reinforced his manager's message in an interview with Sky Sports, making clear how deeply he feels his connection to the club. "I care a lot about this place. I spent my first four years here, it's a special place for us. I care a lot about City and the fans. I am a fan myself. I feel with them," he said.

Haaland urged supporters and teammates alike to stand firm. "The fans will have a good time on Sunday — we have to stick together. Stay positive, look ahead, and try to win football games and enjoy the situation. We have to stick together and spread the love to each other. Enjoy the ride and smile."

Rival managers weigh in

As Premier League football returns following a three-week break, managers across the division have been asked for their views on the verdict. Several clubs have reportedly instructed their coaches to withhold comment on the matter.

Nottingham Forest manager Oliver Glasner said he simply wants the process resolved quickly, drawing on his time at Crystal Palace — who were demoted from the UEFA Europa League to the Conference League in 2025 after breaching multi-club ownership rules. "The most important thing is the integrity of the league because as soon as the fans can't trust it, they won't watch it any more," Glasner said.

Leeds head coach Daniel Farke and Newcastle's Matthias Jaissle both declined to comment at length during their Thursday press conferences.

Coventry boss Frank Lampard — who made 38 appearances and scored eight goals for City in the 2014-15 season — argued that no sanction could erase titles from a player's memory. "I have titles and I don't have my titles hanging on my wall at home, I have them in my head," said Lampard, a three-time Premier League winner with Chelsea. "I think it would be very hard to take someone's title away as a player individually as they should be in your head."

BBC Sport has reported that there is little appetite within the Premier League — among both the organisation and its clubs — for past titles to be stripped from City, though no punishment has yet been handed down.