Manchester City will aim to block out external distractions when they face AEK Athens in the Champions League on Tuesday, looking to recover from last week's heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
In the Premier League, City's results this season have been flawless, with seven wins from seven games. However, these successes are overshadowed by the possibility of a severe points deduction once their appeal against a guilty verdict over financial rule breaches has concluded.
European standing unaffected
While the club's off-field issues have threatened to undermine English football, their reputation in Europe remains less tarnished. There is a scenario where City could be playing in the Championship next season while still competing in the Champions League, a prospect that worries rival clubs.
The key issue revolves around the UEFA licence, which every club requires to play in Europe. These licences are issued by the Football Association and are based on criteria that do not account for sanctions or breaches related to historical offences. If a club meets all minimum admission requirements, which City would, the licence cannot be refused.
Club hierarchy remains defiant
City continue to maintain their innocence. Last week's European match, which ended in defeat, saw Pep Guardiola and his former assistant seated alongside chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chief executive Ferran Soriano, and sporting director Hugo Viana.
"I think they are convinced that in the end we will win the appeal," said City boss Maresca, who also stated: "The reason why I joined this club is I completely trust 100 per cent, the owner, the sporting director, the CEO - all the organisation. I have no doubt about that."
Siege mentality and fan reaction
City have developed a siege mentality but have faced criticism from rival supporters. Their first game after being found guilty was at Liverpool, where banners called them cheats. The debate over City's guilty period includes questions about whether Erling Haaland would have joined a team that hadn't won the Premier League, which might have been the case had they not breached rules from 2009 to 2018.
No member of City's current squad was signed during the period in which an independent commission found the club guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations. Players like David Silva, Sergio Aguero, and Kevin De Bruyne have all left, meaning those at the Etihad now have been signed, in essence, fairly. Yet their successes, including only the second treble in English football history, are questioned by outsiders.
Defensive leader speaks out
Ruben Dias, the club's longest-serving first-team player purchased from another club (excluding Phil Foden), joined from Benfica in 2020. He remains the team's defensive leader and has shown defiance, proclaiming: "I really feel like I speak for the whole group; we trust the club."
The Portugal centre-half also said: "If there's more or less noise or whatever the reason the noise is, at the end of the day it's all the same, same as before, because people don't love us winning and we love to win."
City have made a habit of winning, apart from their PSG hammering, which could have ended differently had they been more clinical in the second half. The Parisians' first-half performance showcased the standard in Europe, but City will relish the challenge of chasing them down, starting tonight against the Greek side.
City fans know how it feels to receive a major punishment and win on appeal. The club took on UEFA after being expelled from European competitions in 2020, having the decision overturned at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Now they face the Premier League, another powerful opponent. Time will tell whether the City hierarchy's defiance is justified or arrogance, believing they have enough influence on and off the pitch to win this battle as well.
