Manchester City successfully fought off a Euroopean ban from UEFA in 2020, and they're aiming to do the same as they take on the Premier League after being found guilty of financial breaches

Manchester City can get away from the outside noise, for one night at least, when they take on AEK Athens on Tuesday, looking to put last week's hammering against Paris Saint-Germain behind them.

Every time they take to the pitch in the Premier League, their results - which this season have been only wins - are caveated by the idea that this could all be rendered redundant by a serious punishment. Yes, Enzo Maresca's side have been flawless domestically, winning seven from seven, but this could all come crashing down with a mega points deduction once their appeal has ran its course and the Premier League can react to their guilty verdict.

However, while their misdemeanours have threatened to undermine England's top flight, their perception on the European stage is less tainted. And there is a world whereby City are playing in the Championship next season and also participating in the Champions League itself - which certain rivals are fearful of.

Right now, despite the anger and frustration surrounding City in England, should they conquer Europe then there is no precedented for denying a team a spot in the following season's Champions League if they qualify on sporting merit.

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The major issue surrounds the UEFA licence, which every club needs in order to play in Europe. They are handed out by the Football Association and are based upon information which does not take into account sanctions or breaches related to historical offences. If a club fulfils all minimum criteria required for admission, which City would, the licence cannot be refused.

Even then, City continue to bang the 'we're not guilty' drum. Last week's European outing, which didn't go to plan, was their latest show of defiance, at least off the pitch. Pep Guardiola and his former assistant were back and sat amongst chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chief executive Ferran Soriano and sporting director Hugo Viana.

"I think they are convinced that in the end we will win the appeal," claimed City boss Maresca, who also said: "The reason why I joined this club is I completely trust 100 per cent, the owner, the sporting director, the CEO - all the organisation. I have no doubt about that."

City have developed a siege mentality but had to cop it from rival fans. It was written in the stars that their first game after being found guilty would be at Liverpool, where banners were held up calling them cheats.

There's plenty of debate over City's guilty period and the residual affect of that. Would Erling Haaland have joined a team that hadn't won the Premier League? Because that may well have been City had they not overlooked the rules to achieve that what they did from 2009 to 2018.

Ultimately, no member of City's current squad was signed during the period in which an independent commission found the club guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations.

The David Silvas, the Sergio Agueros and the Kevin De Bruynes are all gone. So those at the Etihad now have all been signed, in essence, fairly. And yet their successes, which includes only the second treble in English football history, are being questioned by those outside the club.

Their longest-serving first-team player who was purchased from another club (so not Phil Foden) is club captain Ruben Dias. He joined from Benfica in 2020.

He remains the team's defensive leader, and he's come out with a clear show of defiance, proclaiming: “I really feel like I speak for the whole group; we trust the club."

The Portugal centre-half also said: “If there’s more or less noise or whatever the reason the noise is, at the end of the day it’s all the same, same as before, because people don’t love us winning and we love to win.”

Well they've made a habit of that, bar their PSG hammering, which even then could've ended so different had a wasteful City been more clinical in the second-half. The first-half from the Parisians did blow the home side away, showcasing the standard in Europe right now, but will City will relish trying to chase them down, starting tonight against the Greek side.

Those on the blue half of Manchester know full well how it feels to get hit with a major punishment but win on appeal. They took on UEFA after they were expelled from European competitions back in 2020, having it overturned at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Now they're taking on the Premier League, another juggernaut in the footballing world. But time will determine whether the City hierarchy's defiance is in fact arrogance, believing they have enough clout on and off the pitch to win this battle as well.