Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has backed Manchester City to retain the trophies they won during the period covered by the Premier League’s financial investigation, saying the club deserves recognition for its performances on the pitch.
The Spanish coach made the comments ahead of PSG’s UEFA Champions League meeting with Manchester City, as debate continues over the potential consequences of the financial case against the English club.
An independent commission found Manchester City guilty of multiple breaches of Premier League financial rules relating to the period between 2009 and 2018. The club has appealed the verdict and denies wrongdoing.
The case has raised questions about possible sanctions, including financial penalties, points deductions and the potential removal of titles won during the period under investigation.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Luis Enrique said City’s achievements on the field should be considered separately from the legal process.
“What they’ve done on the pitch has been incredible over the last few years, and I think they certainly deserve to win on the pitch all the trophies that they have won,” he said.
The PSG manager added that trophies won through performances on the pitch should remain with the club, while acknowledging that the final decision rests with the relevant authorities.
“I hope they can avoid that sanction; that’s what I feel,” he said.
Luis Enrique’s remarks come at a sensitive moment for Manchester City, whose financial case has attracted significant attention across English football. The possible consequences have prompted debate among supporters, former players and football officials over how any eventual sanctions should be applied.
Manchester City have consistently denied wrongdoing and challenged the findings through the appeals process. The club’s position means the legal and regulatory process remains central to determining what consequences, if any, will follow.
The period covered by the case includes several successful seasons for City, during which they won major domestic honours and established themselves as one of the dominant forces in English football.
The prospect of titles being stripped has become one of the most widely discussed aspects of the case. However, any decision on sanctions must come through the appropriate process rather than speculation surrounding the possible outcomes.
Luis Enrique’s intervention is particularly notable because of his relationship with Pep Guardiola, City’s former manager. The pair previously played together at Barcelona and have maintained a connection through their careers in football management.
Guardiola left Manchester City in May, according to reports, and is expected to return to the Etihad Stadium for the Champions League encounter with PSG. His return adds another storyline to a match already attracting attention because of the financial case and the clubs’ ambitions in Europe.
City are now managed by Enzo Maresca, who has enjoyed an impressive start to his tenure. The Italian has faced the challenge of succeeding Guardiola while maintaining the team’s competitive standards amid scrutiny of the club’s off-field situation.
Luis Enrique, however, played down the idea that the Champions League fixture would determine either side’s standing at this stage of the season. He noted that teams can change significantly over several months and suggested that their true level becomes clearer later in the campaign.
He nevertheless described the match as an attractive contest between two leading European teams.
Manchester City will be keen to keep attention focused on their performances as the appeal process continues, while PSG will aim to make their own statement in a meeting between two clubs with major European ambitions.
For now, Luis Enrique’s position is clear: he believes City’s trophies should remain intact, but he has also acknowledged that the authorities must determine the outcome of the case.
The final decision will rest with the relevant football bodies and legal process, rather than the opinions of rival managers or the public debate surrounding the allegations.
