Former Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce believes that given the turmoil Manchester City is facing, Maresca's best option is to avoid holding a press conference.

Pearce, who managed Manchester City from 2005 to 2007, appeared as a guest on talkSPORT's Rushden & Diamonds show on Wednesday afternoon.

When asked how Maresca should handle press conferences and whether directly addressing the issues would be the best approach, Pearce joked, "There's always that option, or just don't turn up for the press conference. You choose—those are the two."

"It's difficult. Everyone will be very cautious about this issue. Really, it's a very difficult question to answer.

"I was at a fan forum a few days ago, and fans were talking about other clubs—not Manchester City fans, but other clubs. They were saying it has tarnished the Premier League, it has tarnished De Bruyne's performances, and so on.

"I said, it really shouldn't be like that. Whatever the Manchester City coaching staff, manager, and players have done should be viewed separately from these accusations.

"It is the Manchester City hierarchy who really need to respond to these accusations. They must bear the consequences that come with it.

"In my opinion, this matter should be entirely their responsibility, not the players', coaching staff's, or manager's."

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