I saw Man City chairman's show of unity at Inter game as Premier League charges hearing continues

Manchester City Emirati chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak (R) embraces Manchester City's Spanish assistant coach Juan Manuel Lillo (C) ahead of the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Manchester City and Inter Milan at the Etihad stadium, in Manchester, north-west England, on September 18, 2024 (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Manchester City were held by a stubborn Inter Milan side at the Etihad in their Champions League opener on Wednesday.

Just like the 2023 Champions League final, there was little to separate City and Inter, with the Italians giving as good as they got. But there would be no breakthrough from either side - despite two late Ilkay Gundogan chances - and both will be relatively content with a point to open the new era of Champions League competition.

Where a point may have been frustrating or problematic in the old group stage, City have seven more attempts to qualify for the knockout stages and will be happy to have at least one point on the board.

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These are the moments you might have missed from City's clash with Inter Milan.

Chairman's pre-match pitch inspection

Around 45 minutes prior to kick-off, chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak emerged from his hospitality area to show some guests around the pitchside area usually completely restricted for non-football staff. But this is the chairman of the club, so if he wants to spend some time in the technical areas, that's what he will do.

It isn't unheard of for Al Mubarak to venture pitchside, but it is rare. Former defender Joleon Lescott jogged over from his position with TNT Sports for a chat, before Al Mubarak went back under the main stand and later took his place in the director's box - but only after a warm hug with assistant manager Juanma Lillo who had come out early to set up some warm-ups.

Al Mubarak will be one of a very select few who will know what is going on behind closed doors during City's ongoing trial with the Premier League this week, so a football match may have been a welcome distraction for him. With this being the start of the new Champions League format, there are perhaps extra eyes on those at the top of European football to see if it works. Maybe, then, it was useful to have a walk in public before the game - or maybe he was just showing some guests what the Etihad looks like from Pep Guardiola's usual vantage-point.

Foden's pre-match hint

Phil Foden is yet to start this season in what is already looking like a stop-start campaign due to injury and illness. He stayed on the bench for 90 minutes at the weekend, not even warming up, and Pep Guardiola said he didn't want to risk the forward in a tight game.

Foden was again on the bench against Inter but emerged for the pre-match warm-ups with the starting XI and was the designated sub to join the starters in their drills - in rondos, mini-games of keep-ball, and to lay off shots on goal.

He was called upon perhaps earlier than planned with De Bruyne getting a knock just before half-time and Foden on at the interval. He took up De Bruyne's central position, even when Savinho was replaced at the same time - Bernardo instead going wide. It's a sign of where he will be utilise this season when it eventually gets up and running.

Pre-match orchestra get crowd warmed up

There were understandable concerns with City's pricing of this fixture, plenty of fans deciding that the tickets were too costly to justify the outlay, and there were a number of empty seats, especially in the top tiers. It isn't just City who are guilty of raising prices in the Champions League this season, but the impact of it was visible in the biggest game of the group stage.

Those present made sure to get behind the team and were warmed up by the Halle Youth Orchestra and Choir, who played a medley of City-themed songs from Blue Moon to Oasis, to 'Rodri's on fire'. Each got a bigger reaction from the crowd, even if the blue-and-white scarves worn by each singer looked rather festive on what was a pleasant late-summer evening.

But perhaps the most popular song from the Halle was the Champions League anthem to finish off the medley, allowing City fans to boo it enthusiastically before the teams came out. A popular bit of entertainment, although it might not be something that catches on.

Haaland's full time shirt 'row'

When Francesco Acerbi asked for Erling Haaland's shirt at full-time, the striker replied with a clear no. He gestured to Haaland that he had tried to take the shirt plenty of times during the game, and while the exchange ended with both men laughing and smiling, Haaland's shirt remained on his back.

It was a frustrating evening for Haaland, who remains one goal from 100 in a City shirt and missed the opportunity to break Cristiano Ronaldo's record for the fastest man to reach 100 goals for a club. He will have to equal it against Arsenal instead.

In fact, Haaland barely had a touch in the second half, let alone a chance on goal. Inter - like they did in the 2023 Champions League final - frustrated City throughout and limited their chances. Rodri was making his first start of the season and couldn't pop up with a goal to break the tightly-sealed deadlock.