Dias: Manchester City ‘love to win’ despite financial verdict

Manchester City captain Ruben Dias says the club’s players remain united and unapologetic after their emphatic celebrations in the 3-0 victory over Liverpool, despite City being found guilty of more than 100 Premier League financial rule breaches.

City were jeered by Liverpool supporters throughout last weekend’s match at Anfield, but the result kept them top of the Premier League, three points ahead of reigning champions Arsenal after six wins from six matches.

The game was City’s first since they were found guilty of breaching the English top flight’s financial fair-play regulations. They were also found guilty of 34 charges relating to a failure to cooperate with the league’s investigation.

The club has appealed against the verdict, leaving each of their matches being played against a backdrop of uncertainty.

“We really feel like we speak for the whole group, we trust the club,” Portugal defender Dias said on Tuesday.

He added: “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’s celebrations drew criticism after Liverpool were reduced to 10 men, but manager Enzo Maresca defended the players’ reaction.

“Criticised for what? We won 3-0 at Anfield. What do you want us to do? Even if it was 1-0, it would be exactly the same,” Maresca said.

“We work every day to win games. It’s the only thing that we can think about and be focused (on).”

Dias said the occasion justified the celebrations, regardless of when the fixture took place or the circumstances surrounding it.

“To win at Anfield in whatever circumstance, whether it’s earlier in the season or later in the season, we will enjoy it just as much,” he said.

“We will celebrate however it feels in the moment and it will obviously be a show of how much it means to us.”

Maresca said the financial verdict had probably been more difficult for City’s supporters than for the squad or coaching staff, because rival fans could use it to taunt them.

“Probably it has been more tough for our fans than for the players or for me,” he said.

“It is more complicated because if I was an Arsenal fan or United fan and you are a City fan, I can say ‘My friend, you are a cheat’ or these kinds of things. So probably, it has been more tough for them.”

City now turn their attention to Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League league-phase fixture at home to holders Paris Saint-Germain. Both clubs are supported by wealthy Gulf-based owners, with City backed by Abu Dhabi’s ruling family and Paris Saint-Germain financed by the Qatari state.

Paris Saint-Germain are seeking a third consecutive Champions League title. They beat City 4-2 after coming from two goals behind in the 2024/25 edition.

“They won the last two Champions Leagues so that shows how good they are, so we need the perfect game but at the same time doing our best, I think we can beat them and be happy at the end,” Maresca said.

Former City manager Pep Guardiola is expected at the Etihad for the first time since leaving at the end of last season. He has already publicly backed the club during its current crisis.

“In case he’s coming, it’s a nice feeling -– especially for him, because this has been his house for 10 years with what he has done here. It’s exciting for everyone,” Maresca said.