Enzo Maresca urges Manchester City to drown out opposition noise
City boss Enzo Maresca told his players the best way to drown it out was by making even more of their own.
Source: Straits Times Sport · October 12, 2026 at 2:35 AM · AI-assisted report
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ANFIELD, 12 OCTOBER 2026 —
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca declared his team’s response to mounting criticism and financial sanctions would be to silence detractors with on-field dominance, as the club secured a 3-0 victory over Liverpool on October 11 at Anfield—its first match since an independent commission found it guilty of 114 breaches of Premier League financial rules.
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The win, coming just days after the club’s appeal against the verdict was lodged, underscored Maresca’s strategy to turn external noise into fuel for success, with the Italian tactician framing the challenge as one of resilience against sustained hostility.
Liverpool’s away support, known for its ferocity, greeted City with deafening boos and chants, yet the home crowd’s reaction at full time—cheering City’s triumph—proved the point Maresca had drilled into his players: "Our noise is who is singing at the end."
City’s defiance extended beyond the pitch. Club executives Ferran Soriano, chief executive, and Hugo Viana, director of football, traveled to Liverpool, reinforcing unity ahead of a fixture already fraught with tension. Maresca described the atmosphere in the dressing room as one of "togetherness" in the face of adversity, with players shutting out distractions to deliver a performance that silenced critics.
The turning point came in the 62nd minute when Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch was sent off, after which Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, and Rayan Cherki sealed a dominant victory.
The financial ruling—part of a broader crackdown on financial irregularities in football—has cast a shadow over City’s season. The club maintains its innocence, insisting it has "denied all wrongdoing" and is pursuing an appeal. Maresca, however, refused to engage with the legal battle’s timeline, stating bluntly: "I’m here to try to prepare for the games and win games.
I’ve said many times: hopefully, I can speak about this situation when we win the appeal." His focus remains unwavering: "Our noise is: who is singing at the end?"
For now, City’s answer to the storm is clear—victory. The club’s three-point lead at the top of the Premier League table stands as a statement, but the real test lies ahead. With away games looming and the appeal process unfolding, Maresca’s players will face more hostile crowds. The manager acknowledged the inevitability of further noise, telling reporters: "At all the away games there’s going to be noise.
That’s why we need to learn how to deal with it, but at the same time, we need to make our own."
The match’s significance extended beyond the score. City’s ability to perform under pressure—despite a difficult fortnight marked by legal uncertainty—demonstrated its capacity to thrive amid controversy. Maresca praised the players’ professionalism, noting they had "dealt with all the situation very well," while emphasizing the win’s broader importance: "It’s good for us coaching staff. It’s good for the players. It’s good for the fans. It’s good for the organisation."
As City prepares for its next challenge, the message is unambiguous: the club’s response to criticism will be measured in trophies, not apologies. The Premier League’s financial ruling has created a new narrative, but Maresca’s team is determined to rewrite it—one victory at a time. The next chapter in this saga will be written on the pitch, where the only noise that matters is the roar of the home crowd at full time.
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