Manchester, England – Manchester City striker Erling Haaland urged the embattled club’s supporters to stick together in his first public comments since City was found guilty of more than 100 charges relating to breaches of Premier League financial rules. City has appealed against the independent commission’s verdict, insisting the judgment contained “clear material errors, of law, principle and fact.” Asked what his message was to supporters ahead of what should be a combustible Premier League match at Liverpool on Sunday, Haaland called for unity and positivity amid the off-field turmoil. No matter what happens in life, we always have to have a smile.
So yeah: stick together, and enjoy the ride and smile.” The independent commission found that City arranged “sham” contracts with several commercial partners as part of what it described as a “disguised funding scheme” that artificially inflated the club’s revenues and reduced its costs by more than £900 million ($1.19 billion). Haaland, whose father Alf-Inge also played for City, said his connection to the club and the UK in general extended beyond playing for Enzo Maresca’s side. City takes a three-point lead atop the table to Anfield on Sunday to face an opponent with whom it developed a fierce rivalry during Pep Guardiola’s battles with former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp.
I remember sitting and watching the games (before signing with City), how much they pushed each other. It’s always special games there. So it’s always special, and every Premier League game is different, and every game against Liverpool is always special.”
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