adminLONDON. — Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has said playing in an empty stadium won’t help his side when they travel to Russia for their potentially decisive Champions League soccer match against CSKA Moscow today.
The match kicks-off at 6pm.
European football governing body Uefa have ordered CSKA to play the game behind closed doors because of racist behaviour by their fans — something City have direct experience of after Yaya Toure was on the receiving end of verbal abuse when the clubs met last season.
But Pellegrini does not believe this will give the reigning English Premier League champions, still struggling to make their mark on Europe’s elite club competition, an advantage in the Russian capital.
“I think that affects football.
“I don’t think it is the best way to play, not only for our team but for the Russian team,” Pellegrini said.
“I think football is about the fans.
“It is the most important thing because they give an atmosphere at the stadium which is different to an empty stadium.
“It will be a different experience but that cannot affect our performance,” the Chilean added.
City badly need victories in both their matches with CSKA, having been beaten by Bayern Munich and drawn at home to Roma in their opening Group E fixtures. — AFP.
Online Reporter