Maresca defends City's celebrations after 3-0 win at Anfield despite guilty verdict

A 3-0 win at Anfield is no ordinary result, especially when it comes right after an independent panel found the club guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules. So when Manchester City celebrated in full force at the final whistle, criticism followed almost immediately. Enzo Maresca didn't hide from it and answered without hesitation.

"What do you want us to do?" the Italian coach said at a press conference on Tuesday, clearly tired of being questioned over something as basic as celebrating a win. City beat Liverpool 3-0 on the road, a result that came in the team's first match since the verdict was announced, one the club has already formally appealed.

For Maresca, the size of the scoreline changes nothing when it comes to the right to celebrate. "Even if it was 1-0, it would have been exactly the same. We work every day to win games. That's the only thing we can think about. The rest is outside stuff we have to deal with, but we were so happy on the pitch, and you can't imagine what the locker room was like," he explained.

Captain Ruben Dias, who also joined in the celebrations at Anfield, backed his coach's message without hesitation.

I fully support the coach's words. I think we're going to enjoy it just the same and celebrate however it feels in the moment. It's going to show how much it means to us.Ruben Dias

Dias went further, saying that despite the uncertainty surrounding the club following the legal process with the Premier League, the locker room remains "calm" and has full confidence in the institution as the appeal moves forward.

More pressure on the fans than on the squad

The curious thing, according to Maresca, is that it hasn't been that hard to keep a level head within the team. The real weight, he says, falls on the fans. "It's probably been harder for our fans than for the players or for me, because it's more complicated. If I'm an Arsenal fan or a United fan and you're a City fan, I say to you, 'hey, mate, you guys cheated.' So it's probably harder for them, but we were happy in the locker room. We were very pleased to celebrate the three points because winning at Anfield is very difficult," the coach said.

City have no time for distractions. The next match is at home, against none other than the reigning European champions, Paris Saint-Germain, at the Etihad Stadium, in what will be the team's first home match since the guilty verdict was announced. It will be another test, on and off the pitch, for a locker room that insists its only obsession remains winning.