Manchester City Women are pressing on regardless. Manager Andree Jeglertz told reporters on Wednesday that it is "business as usual" for his squad, even as the parent club absorbs the fallout from being found guilty of all charges related to Premier League financial rule breaches.

The women's team were, in fact, the first representatives of Manchester City to face the media since those verdicts were confirmed — an open training session having gone ahead without any visible change to routine or atmosphere at the club's training base. Jeglertz, who led City to the WSL title in his debut season in charge, was peppered with seven questions on the subject before the club's press officer moved proceedings on.

Jeglertz stays tight-lipped on assurances

Asked directly whether he had received assurances that the women's squad would not be affected by the charges, Jeglertz declined to be drawn. "I don't want to comment more around that," he said. He did, however, offer his support to the club, echoing Pep Guardiola's social media statement in backing City: "Definitely. I am working at the club now so that's who I am hired by and working with, so, for sure."

Defender Jade Rose was similarly measured. Rose confirmed the squad had received "the same messaging the public has" from the club's hierarchy, and made clear where her focus lies: "I'm just here to talk about the football. That's what we're focusing on."

What the charges mean — and don't mean — for the women's side

It is worth spelling out the distinction here. The Premier League charges relate to financial breaches committed between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons — a period when the women's game operated under Football Association governance rather than its own WSL structure. The regulatory frameworks are entirely separate. BBC Sport understands there is currently no active investigation being conducted by WSL Football into Manchester City Women, and no suggestion that rival WSL clubs have raised concerns about whether the men's club's conduct gave the women's side any form of improper advantage.

Manchester City's club has been found guilty of arranging what the Premier League described as "sham contracts" with commercial partners to disguise secret funding in excess of £830m. The club continues to deny any wrongdoing and has until 2 October to lodge an appeal.

Eyes on Real Madrid

While the legal and regulatory machinery grinds on, Jeglertz is focused on Thursday's Women's Champions League fixture against Real Madrid — kick-off 20:00 BST. City drew their league-phase opener against Bayern Munich last week and will be looking to pick up their first points in this season's continental campaign.

On the domestic front, the defending WSL champions are flying. City sit top of the table with 12 points from their opening four matches — a platform that gives Jeglertz every reason to keep the noise out of his dressing room.

"We have been training like normal and doing the work we can do to affect the game," he said. "We haven't changed anything, we have just kept on doing everything we normally do. We can't talk about anything else and we don't need to talk about anything else at the moment."

The noises out of the City Women's camp, then, are calm and deliberate. Whether that composure holds as the appeal process unfolds — and any eventual sanctions for the men's club become clearer — remains to be seen. For now, Jeglertz is keeping the curtains drawn and his squad pointing in one direction.

Frequently asked

Will Man City Women be punished for the Premier League charges?
There is currently no active WSL investigation into Manchester City Women. The Premier League charges relate to a different set of financial regulations covering the men's club between 2009-10 and 2017-18, when women's football was governed by the FA rather than its own WSL rules.
What are Manchester City's Premier League charges about?
The Premier League found Manchester City guilty of arranging 'sham contracts' with commercial partners to disguise secret funding of more than £830m across seasons spanning 2009-10 to 2017-18. The club denies any wrongdoing and has until 2 October to appeal.
When do Man City Women play Real Madrid in the Champions League?
Manchester City Women face Real Madrid on Thursday in the Women's Champions League league phase, with kick-off at 20:00 BST. It is City's second group-stage match after drawing their opener against Bayern Munich.