According to some, the players, staff, and fans of Manchester City cannot celebrate anything achieved on the pitch with too much vigour. This risks offending many as the fallout from City’s 3-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield has illustrated. Oddly, the City players, travelling support, and Enzo Maresca, came in for criticism for their celebrations following their impressive win over Andoni Iraola’s side at the final whistle. Apparently, at this stage of proceedings, any action that City produce on the pitch is condemned to offend someone. Speaking ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League league phase fixture against PSG, Enzo Maresca had the perfect response to any criticism of his team’s celebrations at Anfield. In truth, ‘celebration gate’ is just another example of some of the ridiculous coverage surrounding Manchester City right now.
Enzo Maresca has scoffed at the criticism of his team’s celebrations of their win over Liverpool at Anfield.
Of course, Enzo Maresca was asked about the criticism his team received for their on pitch celebrations at Anfield. His response was exactly what was required in the face of such criticism. Maresca defended his team, and in quotes relayed by Sky Sports, he said: “Criticised for what? We won 0-3 at Anfield! What do you want us to do? And even if it was 0-1, it would be exactly the same.”
“I’m here today, and the players are here today, to win tomorrow’s game. And we work every day to win games. It’s the only thing, again, that we can think and be focussed.”
“The rest? It’s just things from outside that we need to deal with, but we were so, so, so happy inside the pitch, and you cannot imagine inside the changing room!”
As Enzo Maresca stated, what are Manchester City players, staff and fans meant to do other than carry on playing and enjoying football?
Until the 115-case reaches its conclusion, it now appears that anything Manchester City do, be it on the pitch or in the stands, will offend someone somewhere. That is now the state of affairs. The apparent ‘celebration gate scandal’ as you could to call it just further illustrates this point.
However at the same time, some sections cannot ‘celebrate’ part of the Premier League’s process of finding City guilty and demand immediate sanctions. While not letting the appeal side of the process play out before the next phase of the 115-case is reached. You cannot have one moment, without the other. Despite how much that may irk some.
Also, as Enzo Maresca pointed out yesterday, what do some people expect Manchester City players and fans to do? The City players cannot celebrate their achievements or victories and instead should ‘tone it down’. Or, the City supporters should wave flags and banners and sing songs saying sorry for it all? Neither of those will occur. No matter how many people get offended it by it all. Frankly, neither of those actions should occur to be perfectly blunt.
Final thoughts.
Perhaps some sections of football need to let the legal process play out regarding the 115-case surrounding Manchester City. A guilty verdict was found by the Premier League’s commission and that verdict has been appealed. Nothing is going to change until that appeal is concluded. That is the process in place.
However, watching ‘celebration gate’ play out to add yet another layer to the furore surrounding Manchester City, a famous skit from Australian comedian Steve Hughes about being offended comes to mind. Speaking on being offended, Hughes said: “Now you have adults going “I was offended, I was offended and I have rights!” Well so what, be offended, nothing happens (when you’re offended). You’re an adult, grow up, and deal with it. I was offended! Well, I don’t care! Nothing happens when you’re offended.”
Perhaps if some sections sat back and let the entire 115-case appeal process play out, they wouldn’t be so offended by Manchester City players celebrating goals, or a famous victory at Anfield. Or be as offended by the Manchester City fans singing, enjoying themselves and showing their defiance. Instead, some continue to stoke the fire, and in the process, they upset themselves or others. Football is in a strange place right now. Especially when it seems that one club is seemingly unable to enjoy football because someone, somewhere, is offended by their actions.
The 115 saga will end at some point. Maybe it is time that everyone waits for that conclusion to arrive to save themselves from being offended during every match that Manchester City. Also, I am well aware that the 115-case is a serious matter that surrounds Manchester City. However, there is a legal process to be played out and perhaps it is time it is respected as those are the rules that in place. After all, don’t the majority want the rules to be followed?