Manchester City Captains Issue Statement to Supporters Following Bodo/Glimt Defeat as Refund Confirmed

Manchester City’s first-team captaincy group has confirmed that the squad will refund the cost of match tickets to supporters who travelled to Norway for the club’s 3-1 defeat against Bodo/Glimt in the UEFA Champions League.

The decision comes after another difficult night for Pep Guardiola’s side, played under extreme conditions in the Arctic Circle and arriving just days after a damaging Manchester derby defeat at Old Trafford.

City fell behind early in Norway, conceding twice inside the opening half-hour before a spectacular third goal shortly after the restart effectively decided the contest, despite Rayan Cherki later pulling a goal back for the visitors.

The result compounded the sense of frustration surrounding the club, with Guardiola admitting post-match that “everything is going wrong” in key moments, while Erling Haaland issued a public apology and took responsibility for recent performances.

Haaland has also spoken openly about the “ridiculous” volume of fixtures being played, highlighting the physical and mental strain of the current schedule. Attention subsequently turned to the travelling support, who endured sub-zero temperatures on an artificial surface to back the team.

According to Manchester Evening News journalist Simon Bajkowski, City captains Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Erling Haaland, and Rodri have collectively agreed that the squad will cover the full cost of tickets for all 374 supporters who made the journey to Bodo.

The gesture totals £9,357 and has now been formally confirmed by the club’s leadership group.

A statement issued by the captaincy group read, “Our supporters mean everything to us. 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.

“We’re ready to fight on Saturday for our game against Wolves and then again next Wednesday when we face Galatasaray in front of our amazing fans at the Etihad.”

Further words acknowledged the difficulty of the trip, with the club noting that Bodo is not an easy destination to reach and that the harsh conditions added to the challenge faced by supporters on the night.

The gesture underlines the strong connection between Manchester City’s players and supporters and reinforces the leadership role being taken by senior figures during a turbulent spell.

Attention now turns to domestic action against Wolves at the Etihad Stadium this weekend, followed by a decisive Champions League fixture against Galatasaray, with automatic qualification for the last-16 still hanging in the balance.

With Guardiola demanding a response and players publicly acknowledging shortcomings, the coming days could prove pivotal in determining whether Manchester City’s season regains stability or continues to drift off course.

Conclusion

Manchester City’s decision to refund travelling supporters reflects accountability within the squad at a difficult moment in the season. While results have faltered, the gesture reinforces the bond between players and fans as the club looks to respond on the pitch in crucial upcoming fixtures.

FAQ

• Q: Why are Manchester City refunding supporters?
  A: The squad chose to refund ticket costs as a gesture of appreciation to fans who travelled to Norway and supported the team in difficult conditions.
• Q: How much will Manchester City refund?
  A: The total refund amounts to £9,357, covering tickets for 374 travelling supporters.
• Q: Who made the decision?
  A: The decision was made collectively by the club’s captaincy group, including Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Erling Haaland, and Rodri.
• Q: What matches are next for Manchester City?
  A: City face Wolves at home in the Premier League before a crucial Champions League clash against Galatasaray at the Etihad Stadium.