City will play Liverpool on Sunday (Monday AEDT) in their first match since the publication of an investigatory panel's verdict that City artificially inflated revenue by more than $1 billion from 2009-18 to circumvent financial fair-play rules that restricted rival clubs.
City were found guilty by the panel of all 80 of the serious financial charges brought by the Premier League and could be hit with severe sanctions — including being expelled from the top-flight. City have lodged an appeal against the findings.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Haaland, City's most high-profile playe, said: "We have to stick together and we have to spread the love to each other. So, yeah, stick together, enjoy the ride and smile."
Asked what his message would be to City fans travelling to Anfield, where a hostile reception awaits the team, Haaland said: "We have to stick together, we have to stay with each other, and we have to stay positive.
"No matter what happens in life, we have always have to have a smile. So we have to stay positive, look ahead and try to win football games and then try to enjoy the situation and the game."
City manager Enzo Maresca is likely to face more severe questioning on Friday when he holds his pre-match news conference with reporters.
It will be Maresca's first remarks on the scandal, with domestic soccer having been on hold for the past three weeks because of an extended international break.
As managers began to get asked about the hottest topic in world soccer, trust Jose Mourinho to find the funny side.
The Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho joked that he may not live to see the end of City's legal battle with the Premier League.
"I would rather laugh about it," Mourinho said, when asked about the case in an interview with Corriere dello Sport.
"I think we will eventually get an ending, but we are both in our 60s and we'll need to be lucky enough to still be around when the final verdict arrives.
"There will be a verdict, then appeals, then more appeals."
