Manchester City held Inter to a goalless draw at the Etihad Stadium in their first Champions League match.
A determined away side managed to restrict Pep Guardiola’s side to a few chances, with Ilkay Gundogan coming closest for the Blues on the night. However, one of the most talked about topics after the final whistle was not what happened in the 90 minutes, but what actually happened in the mixed area afterwards.
Speaking on CBS Sport, former Manchester United and City goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel was blunt about the home fans’ ‘performance’. He said: “I like good football and I like the excitement of the fans but this was dead – Eithad was absolutely dead today.
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“The only people we could hear were the Inter fans, they were pretty good, but there was no atmosphere at the Etihad today. Normally you think of big European nights [having a certain atmosphere] But it didn’t happen for them.”
On Micah Richards’ comments, Schmeichel said, “Micah, get out of the studio every once in a while and experience it, rather than sit there and judge us for what we say. Maybe they left the whole atmosphere on Saturday. [when Micah was in attendance] because it was so flat.”
Unsurprisingly, Schmeichel’s comments were met with outrage from City fans. MEN Sports We asked city writers for their opinions on what the Dane said.
Jack Flintham
Having made his name all over the city, it was perhaps unsurprising that Schmeichel had sunk to this level after this week’s Champions League campaign. Pundits should not be immune to critical atmospheres, but their comments were completely tone-deaf and missed the point entirely.
Yes, the atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium wasn’t as electric as we’d expect at home in Europe’s Champions League, but that’s entirely down to the design of the owners of Premier League football clubs.
In the top division, the atmosphere at clubs is declining due to the greed of those at the top, who have driven ticket prices to astronomical levels, all of which only attracts those with the deepest pockets to matches rather than the loyal fan base whose pockets are stretched thin in the current climate.
Next time Schmeichel decides to launch into a speech about atmospheres, perhaps he should consider who he should be targeting. Hint, it’s not the fans…
Kieran King
Manchester City are often derided for their home crowd and the atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium, but I don’t think they are the worst in the Premier League – or even the Champions League. Yes, they may have been quiet against Inter Milan, but I don’t believe that’s the fans’ fault either.
A number of empty seats were seen for the clash with Inter, but with ticket prices rising and the number of home games City play increasing, is that really a surprise? I’m not so sure about that.
I think Schmeichel was a bit harsh in his comments targeting the fans, but he has played in some of the biggest games with the best atmospheres so he knows the difference between a good crowd and a bad one. And with his son Kasper playing at Celtic Park – where the noise was sensational – for Celtic against Slovan Bratislava, I am not surprised that he is slamming City.
Bruna Reis
The lack of atmosphere we have seen in recent matches is not the fault of the fans who support their team in good times and bad times.
There has been an increase in the number of empty seats in the top division this season but fans should not be questioned about their support for the club, instead the question we should be asking is why have ticket prices increased significantly. The decision by those at the top has had a huge impact on the fan base and has resulted in fans not being able to attend matches.
I think Schmeichel’s comments are misplaced. Football clubs wouldn’t survive without fans, so instead of criticising the atmosphere, Schmeichel should be asking why we got to this point in the first place and demanding answers on how we can make football more affordable for most people again.
Matthew Abbott
City playing four home games in ten days until the end of this month will not help the atmosphere on Wednesday, especially as the club are doing no-one any favours by charging £37.50 for even the cheapest seats for adults, with refreshments just five pounds less. Aston Villa have come under fire for their Champions League ticket prices, but the sight of nearly 3,000 empty seats at the Etihad Stadium means City have questions to answer about the cost of watching Pep Guardiola’s team.
Schmeichel, perhaps unsurprisingly, did not address this on air, instead opting to play cheap tricks on those in the stands who had paid to watch this stalemate. The match itself also suggests there could be cause for concern about the new Champions League format, with both teams looking confident of progressing without having to start their campaigns with a win, and this was felt by the fans.
Isaac Johnson
Schmeichel is entitled to his opinion, but what I read from reporters and fans at the game seems to agree with his assessment differently: Man City were not at their best and the crowd didn’t really have much to cheer about.
This does not mean that the stands are ‘dead’ and Schmeichel’s message to the participants was quite irrelevant and ill-timed given the context.
You may have read the topic above about exorbitant ticket prices, and I won’t go into it further, but I agree with my colleagues. Credit should be given to those who go to the game, too. noisy and less noisy, There are still those who are ready to spend money rather than listen to this kind of commentary on television.