️ Manchester City captain Ruben Dias has mounted a fierce defense of his squad’s provocative celebrations following their 3-0 win against Liverpool, brushing aside the profound controversies clouding the club. The victory at Anfield temporarily elevated City to the summit of the Premier League, but the atmosphere remains heavily strained after the outfit was formally found guilty of over 100 breaches of financial fair-play regulations.

️ Facing persistent jeers from rival supporters, Dias claimed that outside critics simply resent the team’s achievements, declaring that “people don’t love us winning and we love to win.” Despite the verdict citing 34 distinct charges of failing to cooperate with independent investigators, the Portuguese defender maintained an unwavering stance, insisting that the squad retains full faith in the Abu Dhabi-backed hierarchy while an appeal process purportedly gets underway.

️ Manager Enzo Maresca equally rejected complaints regarding City's unrestrained celebrations against a 10-man Liverpool side, arguing that any triumph at Anfield justifies the reaction. However, Maresca conceded that the reputational damage and fallout from the guilty verdicts have taken a heavy toll on the fanbase, who are routinely confronted with accusations of institutional cheating from rival Premier League supporters.

️ The reigning English champions now turn their attention to a high-stakes Champions League showdown against holders Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad Stadium. As former manager Pep Guardiola prepares to watch from the stands, the encounter between two state-bankrolled powerhouses highlights the growing disconnect between football's elite and the integrity regulations designed to govern them.

Source: www.aljazeera.com