LONDON — Manchester City defender Marc Guehi said on Monday a “pretty calm” squad have “a lot of trust and belief in the football club” despite the English giants being found guilty of more than 100 breaches of Premier League financial rules.
City have made an impressive start to the season under new manager Enzo Maresca, winning all of their seven opening league games to lead the Premier League table by three points from champions Arsenal.
But those results have been achieved against the backdrop of a mass of guilty verdicts, which have led to calls for City to be hit with huge points deductions, colossal fines and even the stripping of some of their Premier League titles.
Significantly, however, no punishments have yet been announced and City, who have repeatedly denied wrongdoing, are appealing against the verdicts.
The only blemish to City’s on field form so far in the current campaign has been a 4-2 defeat in the Champions League by title-holders Paris Saint-Germain, with City eager to returning to winning ways in Europe at home to AEK Athens on Tuesday.
England defender Guehi, speaking at a pre-match press conference, said: “The team spirit has been really good, every single person, player, staff and fans are backing us and it has been great to see.
“We’re pretty calm. There’s a lot of relaxed faces because we have a lot of trust and belief in the football club and what’s been going on here,” Guehi added according to AFP.
“It can be very easy to be affected by the noise that’s going on. But I’m so happy to see the team spirit, the team bonding and everyone taking to what’s happening and just focusing on the football,” he added.
Guehi, who joined City from Premier League rivals Crystal Palace in a £20 million ($26.6 million) move in January last year, was asked how he had come to trust the club.
“Ever since I’ve got to the club, the club have been fantastic with me,” the 26-year-old replied. “The support that I’ve had, tough times on the pitch and off the pitch.
“I’m aware already of the success the club has already had in the past and I want to be someone who’s part of the future success.”
Questioned on whether Enzo Maresca’s players had been given any details about why the City hierarchy were so confident of mounting a successful appeal against the decision of an independent commission, Guehi answered: “No, nothing’s been said. The only thing that’s been said is to focus on the football, which is all we can do.”
