As Manchester City faces a high-profile trial over alleged financial rule breaches, the players are unfazed by the media buzz and ongoing legal proceedings.
Despite the weight of 115 charges hanging over the club, many insiders believe that it will have little to no impact on the squad’s performance on the pitch.
Charges Loom, But Players Remain Unshaken
The trial, which began on Monday, involves accusations of Manchester City violating Premier League financial regulations.
If the league’s legal team successfully proves the most serious offenses, the consequences could be severe—potential relegation or a substantial points deduction.
While this sounds daunting, the team remains focused on their upcoming fixtures.
Ahead of City’s opening Champions League match against Inter Milan, TNT Sport pundits Rio Ferdinand and Joleon Lescott discussed the possible effects of the trial on the players.
Ferdinand, a former Manchester United star, quickly dismissed any notion that the charges would serve as a distraction for City’s squad.
Rio Ferdinand: “It’s Just Noise”
Ferdinand drew on his own experiences at Manchester United, citing the protests against the Glazer family’s ownership as an example of external factors that had little influence on the players’ performance.
He argued that the legal battle is just background noise to the team’s primary focus of winning trophies.
“I don’t think it impacts the players,” Ferdinand told TNT Sports.
“When we had things going on with the Glazers, that’s just noise over there. I don’t see them having any problem with that.”
Lescott: Players May Be Affected Over Time
Joleon Lescott, who played for Manchester City between 2009 and 2014, offered a slightly different perspective.
While he agreed that players are generally good at tuning out distractions, he acknowledged that the ongoing nature of the trial might eventually weigh on them.
“As it goes on, depending on the kind of noises, it may do,” Lescott said.
“As players, you are pretty good at distracting yourself.”
Richard Dunne: No Concerns at City
Former Manchester City captain Richard Dunne, who spent nine years at the club and returned as an academy coach earlier this year, downplayed any concerns about the trial.
In an interview with Virgin Media, Dunne emphasized that there’s no panic within the club about the case.
“I don’t think there’s any worry; there’s no mention of it around the place,” Dunne said.
“They’ve always maintained their innocence, and it’s no taint on what these players have done.”
Verdict Expected Next Year, But the Focus Remains
With the trial expected to conclude next year, the outcome could have significant ramifications for the future of English football.
However, within Manchester City, the atmosphere remains calm.
The players, many of whom were not even part of the club when the alleged offenses took place, continue to perform at the highest level.
For now, the club’s focus remains firmly on their football, with the belief that the trial will not overshadow their pursuit of more silverware this season.
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