by Manchester City kicked off their Champions League campaign with a frustrating goalless draw with Inter at the Etihad Stadium.
A determined away side managed to limit Pep Guardiola’s side to few chances with Ilkay Gundogan coming closest for the Blues on the night. However, one of the biggest talking points after the full-time whistle was not what happened during the 90 minutes but what happened in the mixed area afterwards.
Speaking on CBS Sport, former Manchester United and City goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel did not mince his words about the home crowd’s ‘performance’. He said: “I love good football and I love excitement from the crowd but it was dead – the Eithad today was absolutely dead.
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“The only people who could hear us were the Inter supporters, they were quite good, but there was no atmosphere in the Etihad today. You usually think of big European nights [having a certain atmosphere] but it didn’t happen to them.”
After Micah Richards was pulled up on his comments, Schmeichel hit back: “Once in a while Micah, leave the studio and experience it instead of sitting there and judging us for what we say. B ‘maybe they left the whole atmosphere on Saturday [when Micah was in attendance] because it was so fair.”
Unsurprisingly, City supporters were outraged by these comments from Schmeichel. We asked our Sportsman The writers of the city for their judgment of what the Danes had to say.
Jack Flintham
Having made his name across the city, it is perhaps no surprise to see Schmeichel flow to this level after this week’s Champions League final. Pundits should not be immune from an atmosphere of criticism but his comments were completely tone deaf and completely missed the point.
Yes, the atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium was not as electric in the home end as we have come to expect in the Champions League across Europe. However, this is entirely by design of the owners of the Premier League football clubs.
Across the top flight, club atmospheres are crumbling due to the greed of those at the top who are driving up ticket prices to astronomical levels. All this does is invite those with the biggest wallets to games rather than the loyal fans who are straining their pockets in the current climate.
The next time Schmeichel decides he’s on their toes about atmosphere, maybe he should think about who he should be targeting. Hint, it’s not the fans…
Ciaran King
Although Manchester City are often mocked for their home support and atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium, I don’t think it’s the worst in the Premier League – and even the Champions League. Yes, it may have been quiet against Inter Milan but I don’t believe it’s the fans fault either.
There were some empty seats for the clash with Inter, but with ticket prices on the rise and City’s number of home games, is that really a surprise? I’m not so sure.
I think Schmeichel is a bit harsh targeting the fans with his comments, but after all, 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 crowd if he sees. it. And with his son, Kasper, playing at Celtic Park for Celtic’s game against Slovenia Bratislava – where the noise was incredible – I’m not surprised he got the better of City.
Bruna Reis
The fans, who have always been there through thick and thin to support their clubs, are not to blame for the lack of atmosphere we could see in recent games.
Empty seats have increased across the top flight this season but it should not be the fans who are being questioned about their support for the club, rather the question we need to ask is why a significant increase in ticket prices. The decision of the people at the top has really upset fans, making fans unable to attend games.
I think Schmeichel’s comments were not asked for. Without fans, football clubs would not survive so instead of criticizing the atmosphere, Schmeichel should be asking the questions of why we got into this situation in the first place and demanding answers to how football can become more affordable again for most people.
Matthew Abbott
City’s four home games in ten days before the end of this month hardly helped the atmosphere on Wednesday, especially with the club doing no one any favors by getting even the cheapest seats £37.50 for adults and not but five less for concessions. Aston Villa have taken the heat for their ticket prices in the Champions League. But almost 3,000 empty seats at the Etihad Stadium leave City with questions to answer about the costs of watching Pep Guardiola’s side.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Schmeichel did not delve into that air and instead opted for free shots on those who reached out to watch the stalemate in the stands. The game itself also suggests that there could be concerns about the new Champions League format, with both teams seemingly confident of progressing without needing to start their campaign with a win, which the fans felt.
Isaac Johnson
Schmeichel is entitled to his opinion, but what I’ve read from reporters and fans of the game seems to be a different tone to his assessment. Man City were hardly at their best and the crowd didn’t really have much to applaud.
That is not to say that the stands were ‘dead’ and Schmeichel’s message to those present was rather out of the blue and very ill-timed given the context.
You will have read above about the issue of excessive ticket prices and I am not going to labor the point but agree with my colleagues. Credit must be given to the fans of the game, both savage and less so, who are still ready to splurge rather than listen to such talk on television.
