Gladbach fans in uproar after City washout
MANCHESTER CITY were forced to reschedule their Champions League Group C tie with Borussia Monchengladbach after it was called off 20 minutes before kick-off.
The German club and their supporters reacted with dismay after the Group C opener was postponed following fierce thunderstorms in Manchester.
It will now be played at 7.45pm today but that had not been confirmed until late last night as City rushed to put stewarding plans in place.
Pep Guardiola’s side are at home to Bournemouth at 3pm on Saturday, so the 24-hour delay is unlikely to pose the Premier League leaders much of a problem.
Although the pitch had recovered significantly by the time the game was postponed, the decision was made due to concerns for the safety and security of fans in the areas surrounding the stadium after Metrolink rail systems were suspended and floods were reported in the city centre.
After a sunny day in Manchester, late afternoon downpours had escalated into thunderstorms and, by 6.45pm, areas of the playing surface were under pools of water.
An initial pitch inspection was conducted by Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers and a delegation of officials shortly afterwards but they were not satisfied that the ball would roll sufficiently.
While they were deliberating what to do, City’s new goalkeeper Claudio Bravo and his No 2 Willy Caballero came out to warm up and were quickly informed it would not be a good idea as lightning flashed overhead and the rain showed no sign of abating.
It had eased off significantly quarter of an hour later, and the pitch looked playable when City’s head groundsman Lee Jackson carried out an inspection of his own.
But the match was officially called off at 7.26pm — four minutes before the officials were due to carry out a second inspection.
Few City fans had been allowed into the stadium, but the 1,600 fans from Monchengladbach made their feelings known. Borussia defender Oscar Wendt said: ‘It’s hard for us because we prepared for this match, but it’s harder for our supporters because they had a long journey here and bought their tickets.
‘Ninety per cent of our supporters have to leave tomorrow, so they can’t see the game.’
Goalkeeper Yann Sommer added: ‘There was nobody in the stadium besides our fans. It’s a pity for them that they might have to fly home in the morning. I’ve never experienced conditions like that.’
The mood among the German fans was not helped when some of City’s coaching staff came back out on to the pitch after the postponement and began passing the ball around freely, demonstrating that the surface was playable.
Thomas Kruse was part of a group of 20 who had come to Manchester. ‘It’s a disaster,’ the 46-year-old told
Sportsmail. ‘None of us can understand why the decision was made now — it’s incomprehensible. The pitch was really bad when the referee came out earlier but it had improved a lot.’
Another Monchengladbach fan who gave his name as Tomas said: ‘I can’t go to the game if it is tomorrow. I’m off to the airport — I’ve got work. Look, it’s £400 for hotel, flying and everything for nothing.’