Entitled and tone deaf - Peter Schmeichel verdict after Man City crowd controversy

Manchester City kicked off their Champions League campaign with a frustrating goalless draw with Inter at the Etihad Stadium.

A resolute away side managed to limit Pep Guardiola's side to few chances with Ilkay Gundogan coming closest for the Blues on the night. However, one of the biggest talking points after the full-time whistle was not what happened during the 90 minutes but actually what occurred in the mixed zone afterwards.

Speaking on CBS Sport, former Manchester United and City goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel did not mince his words about the home crowd's 'performance'. He said: "I love good football and I like excitement from the crowd but it was dead - the Eithad today was absolutely dead.

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"The only people we could hear were the Inter supporters, they were quite good, but there was no atmosphere in the Etihad today. Normally you think of big European nights [having a certain atmosphere] but it didn't happen for them."

After being pulled up on his comments by Micah Richards, Schmeichel retorted: "Once in a while Micah, leave the studio and experience it rather than sit there and judge us for what we are saying. Maybe they left all the atmosphere on Saturday [when Micah was in attendance] because it was so flat."

Unsurprisingly, these comments from Schmeichel were met with anger from City supporters. We asked our MEN Sport City writers for their verdict on what the Dane had to say.

Jack Flintham

Having made his name across the city, it was perhaps unsurprising to see Schmeichel stoop to this level after the Champions League clash this week. Pundits should not be immune from criticising atmospheres but his comments were completely tone deaf and missed the point entirely.

Yes, the atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium was not as electric in the home end as we have come to expect in the Champions League across Europe. However, this is totally by the design of the owners of Premier League football clubs.

Across the top flight, clubs' atmospheres have been dropping due to the greed of those at the top who are increasing ticket prices to astronomical levels. All this does is invite those with the biggest wallets to matches rather than the loyal fanbase who are having their pockets pinched in the current climate.

Next time Schmeichel decides to have a tirade about atmospheres, perhaps he should think about who he should be targeting. Hint, it is not the fans...

Kieran King

Although Manchester City are often mocked for their home support and atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium, I don't think it's the worst in the Premier League - and even in the Champions League. Yes, it may have been quiet against Inter Milan but I don't believe it's the fans fault either.

A number of empty seats were spotted for the clash with Inter, but with ticket prices rising and the number of matches City have at home, is that really a surprise? I am not so sure.

I think Schmeichel is being a little harsh to target the fans with his comments, but after all, he has played in some of the biggest matches with the best atmospheres so he does know the difference between a good crowd and a bad one if he sees it. And with his son, Kasper, playing at a rocking Celtic Park for Celtic's game against Slovan Bratislava - where the noise was sensational - I am not shocked he has slammed City.

Bruna Reis

The fans, who have always been there through thick and thin supporting their clubs are really not at fault for the lack of atmosphere we might have come to see in recent games.

There has been an increase in empty seats across the top flight this season but fans shouldn't be the ones being questioned on their support towards the club, but instead, the question we need to be asking is why have ticket prices increased significantly. The decision from those at the top has affected fanbases massively, leaving fans unable to attend games.

I think Schmeichel's comments were uncalled for. Without fans, football clubs would not survive so instead of criticising the atmosphere, Schmeichel should be asking the questions as to why we got in this situation in the first place and demand answers on how football can become more affordable for most people again.

Matthew Abbott

City having four home matches in ten days before the end of this month will have hardly helped the atmosphere on Wednesday, especially with the club doing no one any favours by making even the cheapest seats £37.50 for adults and only a fiver less for concessions. Aston Villa took the heat for their Champions League ticket prices. But the sight of almost 3,000 empty seats at the Etihad Stadium means City have questions to answer about the costs of watching Pep Guardiola's side.

Schmeichel perhaps unsurprisingly did not delve into that on-air and instead opted for cheap shots at those who did fork out to watch that stalemate in the stands. The game itself also suggests there could be cause for concern about the new Champions League format, with both teams seemingly confident of progressing without needing to start their campaign with a win, which was felt by the fans.

Isaac Johnson

Schmeichel is entitled to his opinion, but what I have read from reporters and fans at the game seem to chime differently to his assessment. Man City were hardly at their swashbuckling best and the crowd didn’t have much to cheer at in truth.

That doesn’t mean to say the terraces were 'dead' and Schmeichel’s message to those in attendance was rather out of the blue and particularly ill-timed given the context.

You will have read above about the issue with extortionate ticket prices and I’m not going to labour the point but I agree with my colleagues. Credit must go to the match-goers, both boisterous and less so, who are still prepared to shell out rather than listen to such punditry on the TV.