Maresca tells Man City players to stay focused and positive

Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca wants his squad to focus and be positive after the club were found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules. Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca encouraged his squad to stay focused and positive as they trained together for the first time since the club were found guilty of the majority of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League. The club's international players returned to training on Thursday, nine days after the Premier League published a damning report that stated the club had used "sham" contracts to disguise secret funding of more than £830m. BBC Sport reported this week that Maresca would address the players upon their return to domestic duty after news of the verdicts broke while the majority of the squad were away with their respective nations.

It is understood the City head coach asked his players not to allow the crisis that has engulfed the club to affect their attitude and focus as the Premier League campaign gets back under way this weekend. Speaking to Sky Sports before Sunday's trip to Liverpool, striker Erling Haaland echoed his manager's sentiments, saying: "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.