Paris Saint‑Germain manager Luis Enrique said he was surprised by Manchester City’s guilty verdict on Premier League financial breaches but hopes the club can avoid sanctions and keep the trophies earned on the pitch. He praised City’s recent performances ahead of their Champions League clash.
Paris Saint‑Germain boss Luis Enrique said he was surprised to learn that Manchester City had been found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules, but he hopes the English club can avoid any sanctions (source 2). Speaking at a news conference at the Etihad Stadium, Enrique stressed that “there is a lot of noise around Manchester City and there is often noise around big clubs,” and that the final decision rests with the authorities (source 2).
Enrique praised City’s on‑field achievements, stating that the trophies they have won over the past few years “were earned on the pitch” and that the club “deserved” to keep them (source 2). He added that “the trophies you win on the pitch remain on the pitch” and that he hopes the sanctions, if any, will not strip the titles (source 2).
The independent commission’s investigation covered a nine‑year period from 2009 to 2018, finding that City created “sham” contracts with commercial partners to funnel more than £830 million into football operations (source 2). Manchester City have denied wrongdoing and have lodged an appeal (source 2). The upcoming Champions League tie sees City host PSG on Wednesday at 20:00 BST, marking City’s first home match since the verdict (source 2).
Enrique also noted his personal respect for City’s style of play, saying he loves their football and that their high‑quality squad and top coach make them a formidable opponent (source 2). PSG forward Ousmane Dembélé echoed the sentiment, describing City as a “high‑quality team, world‑class players and a top coach,” regardless of the off‑field issues (source 2).
Both clubs have faced past UEFA fines for financial breaches—PSG in 2014 and City in the same year—but both maintain they operated within regulations at the time (source 2). As the Champions League showdown approaches, the focus remains on whether the disciplinary process will impact City’s recent successes.