The Manchester City squad have moved swiftly to make amends with supporters who travelled to Norway for Tuesday night’s stunning Champions League defeat, agreeing to refund ticket costs for all 374 fans who made the journey to Bodø.
City were beaten 3-1 by Bodo/Glimt in freezing conditions inside the Arctic Circle, a result that has already been described as one of the biggest upsets in recent UEFA Champions League history.
The players will collectively contribute £9,357 to reimburse those who backed the team on a difficult night. The away tickets cost around £25
Speaking on behalf of the squad, the club’s captaincy group of Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Rodri and Erling Haaland paid tribute to the travelling support.
“Our supporters mean everything to us,” they said.
“We know the sacrifice that our fans make when they travel across the world to support us home and away and we will never take it for granted. They are the best fans in the world.
“We also recognise that it was a lot of travelling for the fans who supported us in the freezing cold throughout a difficult evening for us on the pitch.
“Covering the cost of these tickets for the fans who travelled to Bodo is the least we can do.”
Before then, Naija News reports that Haaland did not hide his frustration after the match, calling the result “embarrassing” and offering a blunt apology to supporters on TNT Sports.
The gesture has been warmly received by the club’s Official Supporters’ Club, despite there being little pressure from fans for compensation. A representative of the OSC, Kevin Parker, praised the players for recognising the effort involved.
“City fans will travel to the ends of the earth to support our team, and last night was no different in the Arctic Circle,” the supporters’ club said.
“Bodo is not an easy place to get to, and the sub-zero temperatures made it a challenging evening on several levels for our fans.
“The City’s support has an incredible connection with the players on a matchday, and this gesture is yet another reminder of that relationship; it means a lot to us.
“We know that the players are disappointed with the defeat to Bodo, but with our next game at home on Saturday, there’s a chance to get back to winning ways, and our fans will be in full voice.”
City now face pressure in Europe and must win their final group game against Galatasaray to secure a top-eight finish.
