Enzo Maresca 'thrown under the bus' as Man City boss faces 'interrogation' over 114 charges

Enzo Maresca has been thrown under the bus by Manchester City and will face a barrage of questions upon the return to club football.

The timing of the Premier League's verdict that Man City are guilty of 114 of their 115 charges for financial rule breaches was well-timed given the extended international break.

However, with a return to club football looming as Man City face Liverpool on 11 October, the boss is set to come under pressure from the media in his press conferences.

Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Maresca could not have known the verdict would arrive this season when he took the Man City job in June.

However, his knowledge of the situation cannot be dismissed, and while he may not have been involved due to the time period of the investigation, he will come in for some stick.

Man City maintain their innocence and have released multiple formal statements, but Maresca is now set to face the media ahead of a difficult couple of weeks.

What is next for Enzo Maresca at Man City?

Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider on 30 September that Maresca will have an exit clause in his contract which will be triggered if Man City are relegated.

Relegation is just one of a number of possible sanctions the Sky Blues could suffer if their appeal fails, and the manager will likely have to be the public-facing response.

There is a feeling that Maresca has been thrown to the wolves by Man City, but with growing uncertainty and doubts surrounding everybody at the club, it will be a tough few weeks.

"Enzo Maresca, unfortunately for him, is going to have to deal with all of these questions," Brown told Football Insider.

"He'll have to fulfil his media duties when we get back to club football, and that means it's going to be like an interrogation to get some information out of him about these charges.

"In that respect, he's been thrown under the bus by Man City because he's now got to mop up their mess publicly. It will obviously be the main line of questioning whether he likes it or not.

"I don't think you can dismiss the idea that Maresca didn't know anything about it, because this isn't his first spell at the club, even if the timelines don't quite match up.

"He will try to deflect but that's not going to happen, he's got to deal with this now rightly or wrongly.

"It's unfortunate because he couldn't have known the verdict was going to arrive when he took the job, and now just months into his tenure he's got to deal with all of this."

How could Man City and Maresca embarrass the Premier League?

Man City have maintained their innocence and have lodged an official appeal against the Premier League's verdict as they aim to have the decision overturned.

Regardless of whether that appeal is successful, there have been hints that the proceedings could drag on longer than initially expected before we hear a verdict on their sanctions.

Football Insider revealed on 3 October that Man City and Maresca could be set to "embarrass" the Premier League by winning the competition despite their charges.

After winning all of their opening five Premier League games, City are in place to enjoy another strong season despite the backdrop of crisis behind the scenes.

Should they not be sanctioned before the end of the season, and go on to win the Premier League, the whole situation could become farcical.