Manchester City’s players will refund all travelling supporters who attended the abject Champions League defeat at Bodo/Glimt.
Erling Haaland labelled the performance ‘embarrassing’ as the Norwegian minnows ran out 3-1 winners, with Rodri sent off for two bookings in under a minute in the second half.
The display came four days after comfortably losing the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, with City having won just two of their last seven games in all competitions.
The majority of City fans will have taken flights to Oslo before connecting to Bodo, standing in sub-zero temperatures in the Arctic Circle as Pep Guardiola’s team barely laid a glove on their hosts.
City’s squad are committing to giving fans their money back for tickets, a total of £9,357, and released a statement via the leadership team of Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Rodri and Haaland.
‘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.
Erling Haaland boards the coach away from the stadium after Man City were thrashed by Norwegian minnows Bodo/Glimt on a night to forget in Europe
Pep Guardiola’s side were unable to get back to winning ways on the heels of defeat to United
‘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.’
The number of away supporters inside Aspmyra Stadion stood at 374 to witness one of the biggest shocks in Champions League history.
Kevin Parker, speaking on behalf of the official supporters club, said: ‘City fans will travel to the ends of the earth to support our team.
‘Bodo is not an easy place to get to, and the temperatures made it a challenging evening on a number of levels for our fans.
‘The City 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.’
