According to a recent Daily Mail report, after the Premier League officially announced its charges against Manchester City, some players believe they have the fighting spirit and determination to compete for the league title, while others have contacted their agents seeking solutions.

After losing to Arsenal in the Community Shield in August, Maresca quickly realized that tactical adjustments were essential. Arsenal completely dominated Manchester City physically, and Maresca had anticipated this outcome before the match. Some key players had barely completed a full training session together before the game.

Arsenal's fluid approach penetrated Manchester City's defensive system, which relied on player positioning rather than constant high pressing. Maresca was determined to change his approach: Manchester City would adopt a more aggressive style, using high pressing from the front to disrupt the opponent's rhythm.

These adjustments have resulted in several open and expansive matches, making Manchester City the most entertaining team in the Premier League this season. While Maresca quickly adapted his defensive strategy, the club's senior management took a notably harder, uncompromising stance in recent days.

Regarding the decision by the three-person independent investigation committee that found Manchester City guilty of violations including false sponsorships and hidden funding, Manchester City's leadership intends to appeal through the end. The club possesses what it calls "irrefutable evidence of legitimate funding sources," and Lord Pannick will defend based on facts and legal procedure.

After the Premier League officially released its ruling on Tuesday evening, around 17:30 local time, Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano sent a video to all employee inboxes, informing everyone of important details regarding the situation. Players also received this communication.

Days before this dramatic turn of events, Manchester City had been in its "bonus week," with employees across various club departments receiving bonuses reflecting the previous season's domestic double. On that unfortunate Tuesday, many had just received five-figure bonuses in their bank accounts.

Just seven days before the ruling was announced, an independent regulatory body had approved Claire Caterlin as Manchester City's new Chief Financial Officer. She previously worked for a motorway service station operator network. In recent days, the club has also advertised at least eight job vacancies.

When Soriano's video reached employee inboxes, the England squad was about to kick off in Prague. O'Reilly and Guehi listened to the audio on their phones, their expressions full of confusion. Tuchel later acknowledged that Manchester City players were worried during the international break but showed extreme professionalism in team meetings and training.

The charges and ruling were nearly unavoidable dinner topics, following them like a shadow throughout four Nations League matches. Over the past week and a half, several Manchester City players have frequently communicated with their agents, raising many questions that often have no answers.

They are clearly anxious about their near-term career prospects, which is entirely understandable. After a 7-0 victory over Croatia last Sunday, Guehi, Anderson, and Gvardiol huddled in midfield, and it was not hard to guess they were discussing this situation.

During the international break, they were temporarily removed from the domestic storm of public opinion. The closed training ground isolated them from the outside world, so they did not have to face rival fans' arguments online or daily discussion about potential punishments or whether Manchester City could appeal and escape sanctions. They also did not see concerned employees or hear verbal attacks in the streets.

The players have not witnessed this chaos directly, but from this weekend onward, there is no escape. They head to Liverpool for a major test at Anfield, a stadium always charged when facing Manchester clubs, and the atmosphere will be even more intense when the result carries such significance.

The entire Manchester City squad returned to training on Thursday. Six years ago, Manchester City faced a European competition ban, which was eventually overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. At that time, Soriano spoke to the team to explain the situation. Maresca must handle this communication carefully; his discussion with the players will be one of the most important communications of his managerial career.

Over the past three months, the players have been very receptive to him. Sources close to the players indicate that everyone has different views on this situation. Maresca needs strong man-management skills. Some players are determined to fight and push for the league title regardless of where they finish at season's end, with no intention of leaving.

However, another group of players are naturally more anxious. Their agents are examining "termination for just cause" clauses in their contracts – related rights held by both clubs and players – discussing whether contracts could be immediately terminated if heavy sanctions such as relegation occur. Yet agents are also emphasizing the need to wait for the appeals outcome and observe the situation first.

Many agents are re-examining contracts signed by their clients: these contracts do not contain relegation termination clauses. Manchester City player contracts typically comprise three main components: base salary, Champions League participation bonuses, and performance bonuses based on actual playing time during the season. Manchester City's consistent past performance meant that these components, when combined, effectively amounted to a stable full salary.

For some players, base salary accounts for 60% of total income, while for others it approaches 75%. Everyone follows Manchester City's salary and bonus system, where bonuses represent a significant portion of total earnings. A contract with a weekly wage of £300,000 might have only £200,000 as base salary. It is understood that performance bonuses only apply in the Premier League, Champions League, and domestic cup competitions; after relegation, these bonuses and European competition-related bonuses would become inapplicable.

All agent teams are evaluating these risks, but their advice to players is: focus on what you can control, and first play well in Sunday's match against Liverpool. As Donnarumma's agent said on Wednesday: "Everything remains unchanged for us and Donnarumma."

"The club has communicated with Donnarumma, and everyone is calm. There are important upcoming matches against Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, after which the sports legal process will proceed step by step. Donnarumma has been reassured by the club."

Those familiar with Maresca disclosed this week that he has conveyed the same message. He appears relaxed in his daily life in Cheshire, even joking with friends, "All I can control is football itself." This starkly contrasts with the grim expression in photos of him driving to work on Monday.

When he took over as manager in the summer, he anticipated this storm might arrive. Like Guardiola, the club has given Maresca relevant reassurances. And it is deeply unfair that he must face media scrutiny alone at Friday's press conference.

Maresca previously served as assistant coach and U21 manager, but he was not employed by the club during the years covered by the investigation. On Monday, a Semenyo sponsor event was temporarily canceled. During the international break, no Manchester City star gave media interviews about the charges.

Before this, Maresca's public appearances have been widely praised, with touches of clever wit – for instance, his look at Wayne Rooney during the live Amazon broadcast after the Porto win. He also has clear tactical ideas for the team.

Maresca knows that the entire Manchester City squad needs fresh motivation and a new voice. He is very motivated by the players' desire to learn and their hunger for knowledge. The expansion and modernization of the training ground gym has also proven helpful, which all the players appreciate. During open training, the music on the pitch is extremely loud, and the broadcast crew at the sideline has repeatedly asked for it to be turned down, without success.

In the coming weeks, as external hostility continues to mount, it will become clear whether team morale can be maintained. No one knows how the players will react to mounting ridicule. This squad is different from the 2023 team, when charges first emerged and Manchester City responded by claiming the treble.

Now, other clubs see the investigation committee's guilty verdict and feel vindicated, speaking out in force. Intense criticism will place enormous pressure on Manchester City. Maresca must embrace all of this and use his time at the Etihad to motivate the team to respond.

While most Premier League viewers will believe that the story of the coming weeks and months will fade as this legal battle continues, for the group of players and their head coach, this matter carries tremendous significance.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

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