The verdict landed on Friday, and nothing is the same
Manchester City were found guilty on 114 of the 115 Premier League charges on Friday (4). The number is the story. Not 115, not a comfortable acquittal, 114, and the club's own position is that the process is not over (5). Khaldoon Al Mubarak has told fans to stay calm and insisted City will prove their innocence (5) (2). That is the line. The rest of football moved on from it within about an hour.
The sanctions on the table are the reason. A points deduction in the region of 100, relegation, even expulsion from the top four divisions of English football (6). City sit top of the table on 15 points with five wins from five. None of that protects them. A deduction is applied to the number, not to the mood.
The past is being reopened, and City cannot control that
Tony Pulis came out swinging about the 2011 FA Cup final, which City won 1–0 through Yaya Touré. His word was "cheated" (1) (6). That final was fifteen years ago and it is now live again. Harry Redknapp argued the opposite case, that punishment should apply going forward and that going back to alter old results "would be madness" (3). He still wants the sanctions to hurt.
Get the next Manchester City FC brief by email
This article went out to subscribers as a brief. Get the next one straight to your inbox, free.
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
The louder fight is about the players. Roy Keane went after Rodri on ITV, saying the club "chose to cheat" and that whatever City won in those years, they deserve to be punished (7) (33). Andrew Robertson took the opposite line, that players never carry the blame in these cases (8). Both cannot be right, and that argument is only starting. Noel Gallagher said he was surprised by the news and by how little the club has said to supporters (9). Four Premier League rivals have already filed paperwork to reserve compensation claims (10) (23).
The squad is being circled, and the calendar does not care
Real Madrid, Arsenal and Barcelona have all been linked with Erling Haaland since the verdict, with reports of contact (3). That is noise until a bid exists, but it is noise with a legal bill attached. Real Madrid are also tracking Elliot Anderson, who has played 415 Premier League minutes this season, and Ayyoub Bouaddi (11) (29). Juventus and Milan want Rayan Aït-Nouri, who has barely featured and was sent home from Algeria's camp after a row with the coaching staff (12) (13) (28).
Haaland is the one who keeps scoring anyway. Two goals for Norway in a 3–2 win over Denmark (14). Bouaddi ran the show for Morocco in a 2–0 win over Gabon on Friday, and Enzo Maresca called him "very good" and pointed out he is 18 (15).
Anfield on October 11 is the next real test
The international break ends and City go to Liverpool on Sunday, October 11 at 17:30 (17). No club has beaten them in the league yet, and Anfield is where that record gets auditioned. Liverpool have their own problem: Alexander Isak was pulled out of the Sweden squad with a toe injury and is awaiting scans (17). If he misses it, Liverpool lose the one forward who stretches a high line. City's task is simpler than their week. Turn up, win, and let the lawyers handle the other thing.
