After the international break, the Premier League is back. Before the weekend's matches, managers from all twenty Premier League clubs will hold their regular press conferences. The Athletic has learned from sources that Premier League clubs will discuss the Manchester City case, and the views of Arteta and Lampard, who both have previous experience at Manchester City, will be particularly scrutinized.

A two-week international break has captured attention on the European and world stages, but this weekend the Premier League returns with a significant issue weighing on everyone's minds.

The biggest legal case in English football history reached its decision during this domestic competition pause; public outcry over Manchester City's "systematic" breaches of financial rules has not subsided. Final penalties have not yet been revealed, and whether Manchester City's impending appeal will succeed remains unknown. However, over the next 48 hours, 20 managers will be drawn into this discussion.

All Premier League managers (including Guardiola) are required to attend their routine pre-match press conferences this weekend, and journalists will inevitably ask about last week's independent commission decision, which upheld nearly all allegations against Manchester City. The media will, for the first time, gather each manager's views, asking about their opinions on potential penalties and subsequent cascading effects.

Unfortunately, football legends affected by Manchester City's rise—Sir Alex Ferguson, Wenger, Mourinho, Klopp—are no longer managing. Guardiola will also be a closely watched figure; last week he publicly supported Manchester City on social media, further clarifying his stance.

Many of the 20 managers and their clubs have no direct interest in this case, but all will be questioned about one of the most significant events in English football history.

"I don't think this topic can be avoided," said a former communications director at an established Premier League club, who, like all those interviewed for this article, chose to speak anonymously to avoid damaging professional relationships. "I haven't heard any communications director say, 'We won't answer any questions about this,' because that usually backfires. Every manager will be asked about it. Clubs understand this and ultimately will try to minimize the topic. No one wants their club making headlines related to this. The bigger the club, the bigger the headlines will be."

The Premier League has never seen an event of this magnitude before. The proposed European Super League in 2021 was short-lived, quickly collapsing with accompanying public condemnation that gradually faded.

The long-term impact of the Manchester City case, however, could be far more profound. Theoretically, potential sanctions include stripping the team that has dominated English football over the past decade of titles, relegation, and heavy fines, as well as facing claims from other clubs. Conversely, if the appeal succeeds, all these risks could vanish.

No manager facing the media can predict the final outcome, but the public will certainly be eager to hear their views on the Manchester City case.

The Athletic interviewed three former Premier League club communications directors to understand how the initial press conferences will be conducted and what statements managers might make about Manchester City's unresolved fate.

"It depends entirely on the manager themselves, their personality, and how they handle things," said one veteran public relations professional. "Some managers will repeat the club's unified message verbatim; others will feel irritated when asked what to say and how to say it. Some will give very evasive answers. Most clubs will choose to be well-prepared and speak cautiously."

Manchester City certainly will. With an away match against Liverpool on Sunday, Guardiola will face the media tomorrow in a delicate situation. Everyone is waiting to see how he comments on Manchester City's current position and what impact the events of the past two weeks have had on the league leaders.

Given the highly sensitive nature of the case, he may not provide substantial details. However, supporters of other clubs have already found collective emotional satisfaction in the commission's decision and are eager to hear their managers' views.

All these press conferences will be meticulously prepared. Communications directors will undoubtedly consult high-level executives not involved in football operations at the club to guide the manager's responses. It is understood that clubs will also communicate with each other to discuss how to handle such sensitive questions.

"This perfectly illustrates how a manager's weekly press conference is a contractual obligation, but sometimes it collides with these major football issues," said a former communications director. "Managers are forced to address broad, macro-level questions they don't want to engage with. It has nothing to do with their daily training responsibilities."

Some pre-match press conferences could also be particularly awkward. Arteta served as Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City from 2016 to 2019 before taking over at Arsenal; Arsenal frequently struggled against their opponent's financial firepower during that period. Coventry manager Lampard also played for Manchester City, featuring for them in the 2014-15 season before moving to New York City FC, which is also part of the City Football Group.

Manchester United supporters will be eager to hear from Ten Hag. As a player, Ten Hag was part of teams that finished runners-up to Manchester City twice, in the 2011-12 and 2017-18 seasons. His former teammates Ferdinand and Scholes have already called on social media for titles to be reinstated; meanwhile, Manchester United's own position is quite delicate: Omar Berrada, who worked at Manchester City during the years of the alleged breaches, is now Manchester United's CEO. There is currently no evidence that Berrada was involved in the commercial transactions under investigation, but this past association will be a concern for Manchester United when considering potential legal claims.

Of the 20 Premier League managers, the vast majority will not face this level of scrutiny. Five managers (Marco Rose, Pierre Sage, Arbeloa, Jagielka, Jaisselé) are new to the Premier League this season, and it is difficult to argue that their teams' fates were directly impacted by Manchester City's spending.

However, sanctions against Manchester City could ultimately affect all clubs. If Manchester City faced a significant points deduction this season, it would effectively reduce the number of relegation spots from three to two. But it is highly unlikely any manager will admit this publicly. "If a club is genuinely planning legal action, they won't want to jeopardize it with comments," said one interviewee.

Perhaps Everton manager Moyes will carry the most weight; he is the longest-serving Premier League manager currently in charge. The Scotsman has witnessed Everton fall behind during Manchester City's initial rise, with the team missing out on European competition multiple times since. Everton has also been the most heavily penalized club in the Premier League in recent years, receiving two points deductions for breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules.

"I don't think any Premier League manager is looking forward to this question-and-answer session," said the former communications director. "Think of Mourinho back in the day; he was a walking headline. Even if he read the back of a cereal box, it would be news. What everyone wants most now is a definitive conclusion, and that might be the most common statement. For example, 'We cannot comment on the allegations as the case is still in Premier League proceedings.' But all clubs want this matter resolved and to understand its cascading effects this season. Any manager saying something like that would be perfectly reasonable."

Manchester City manager Guardiola, who leads the league with five wins from five matches, is naturally included in this.

Traduzido por IA.

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