Manchester City’s lack of crowd support and empty stands at the Etihad Stadium have become synonymous. A recent video circulating on social media captured the arrival of the team bus before their match against Chelsea, and it was met with minimal chants and cheers from home fans, resulting in a lackluster atmosphere.
Despite Manchester City’s impressive achievements, including three consecutive Premier League titles and a treble last season, the club has faced criticism for the lack of support from fans across England. Instances of low crowd support and empty stands at the Etihad have been all too common. The recent video of the team’s arrival further highlighted the struggle to generate anticipation among home fans.
Even with a highly anticipated match in Manchester, the rainy weather dampened the excitement of the home supporters. The announcer’s attempts to energize the crowd were met with only a few cheers and mild applause. Introducing the manager and the rest of the City squad upon their arrival did little to improve the subdued response. Rival fans took this opportunity to mock Manchester City and its fans, comparing the atmosphere to that of a quiet school.
In addition to the lack of atmosphere, the match itself proved to be disappointing for Manchester City. They were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Chelsea, who initially took the lead with a goal. An 83rd-minute goal salvaged a draw for the home side, but it also resulted in a slip to the 3rd position in the league.
A viral video showcasing the fans outside the Etihad Stadium welcoming the team bus garnered attention from internet users and football fans. Rival fans took aim at the club and its supporters for the lack of chants and weak noise during the team’s arrival. Despite the announcer’s efforts to motivate the crowd, the response was minimal.
Reactions flooded social media, with City supporters expressing their disappointment at the lack of noise from the crowd, while rival fans mocked the team. Some fans suggested that the team should not have even gotten off the bus due to the low support. Others humorously compared the atmosphere to that of a car boot sale, highlighting the lack of energy at the Etihad.
Here are a few examples of fan reactions:
– “Bought and paid for…. No history whatsoever…. 🤫🤫⚽️⚽️”
– “It’s the players arriving before their game against Chelsea so all kids can see their heroes. While all the adults are in the pubs.”
– “Maybe their time is coming to an end with all the FFP charges against them 😂😂🤞🤞”
– “I would be so embarrassed to get off the bus.”
– “Farmers market pic.twitter.com/VJFN6BTHxN”
– “Has to be fake.”
Unfortunately, Manchester City also struggled to make an impact on the pitch during the match. One fan expressed their disappointment by calling the entire situation pathetic and even had to switch off their television to avoid watching it.
According to the Source firstsportz.com