PSG boss backs City on the pitch as verdict looms

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique said he was surprised to learn Manchester City had been found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules and hopes the English champions can avoid sanctions.

City host European champions PSG in the Champions League on Wednesday at 20:00 BST – their first home match since being found guilty of the majority of 115 charges.

Speaking at a news conference at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, Enrique said:

"There is a lot of noise around Manchester City and there is often noise around big clubs. We just have to wait and see what the final decision will be. I hope everything works out well for Manchester City because I think what they have done on the pitch has been incredible over the last few years and they certainly deserved to win on the pitch all the trophies they have won. Now we have to wait to see what the authorities decide or the judge is going to say."

An independent commission found City had broken rules over a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018 by creating "sham" contracts with commercial partners to secretly funnel more than £830m into their football operations. City insist they are innocent and have appealed.

Enrique added:

"The first thing that you hear, it is a surprise, but we need to respect the process and wait for the final decision. The authorities are responsible for making these decisions. But speaking only about football, they deserved those trophies. I love their football. Beyond that, we have to wait for the decision."

"The trophies you win on the pitch remain on the pitch. They deserved to win that and I hope they can avoid the sanction. But we have to wait."

Guardiola return and PSG perspective

Enrique is friends with former City boss Pep Guardiola, who is expected to make his first return to Etihad Stadium on Wednesday since leaving at the end of last season after winning 20 trophies in 10 years.

City were bought for £200m in 2008 by Abu Dhabi United Group, owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. PSG, who have won back-to-back Champions Leagues, are owned by Qatar Sports Investment. Both clubs were fined in 2014 by Uefa for breaching financial rules.

Dembele: City remain tough

France forward Ousmane Dembele was asked if now was a good time to play City with everything the club is facing off the pitch.

"It is always difficult regardless of it being a good moment or a bad moment," said the PSG attacker. "They have a high quality team, world-class players and a top coach as well. It doesn't really matter. It's always tough playing Manchester City."