Manchester City players have been warned to expect hostile reactions from rival supporters after the club were found guilty of nearly all counts in the 115-charge case. The warning comes as the team prepare to resume club duties this weekend, with a trip to Anfield first up.
Elliot Anderson's Heckling at Selhurst Park
The treatment is nothing new for City players. In August, midfielder Elliot Anderson was heckled while walking to the dressing room at Selhurst Park. The £116m signing might have expected a jibe about his price tag, but instead the comment related to the charges.
“Elliot,” came the voice. “One-one-five: are you sure?” Anderson took a second to register, then turned back to see who had spoken and laughed in their direction before continuing on his way.
For more than three years, similar comments have been made to individuals, and the team have often been serenaded by opposition fans with chants about them being cheats. That chant usually comes shortly after fans ask City supporters where they were when the club were not very good.
Anfield Atmosphere and Historical Context
Anfield is probably the worst ground City could have asked for first up after the verdict, yet there are plenty of Liverpool fans already playing down expectations. The atmosphere will be far more hostile than it likely would have been without the news, but this is still a fanbase trying to get to grips with the football of a new coach who is yet to win at Anfield in the Premier League with the team.
Andoni Iraola will welcome the extra noise from the fans, yet visions of a repeat of the chaotic 2017 Champions League quarter-final at Anfield, when the City bus was attacked on the way in, seem fanciful. That night really did shake the City players, who were 3-0 down after half an hour, but the anger and passion of that rivalry has fizzled. Even Jurgen Klopp couldn't bring himself to be delighted with the guilty verdicts when asked recently, having once talked about holding parties and parades to mark City's guilt.
Women's Team Already Affected
Former defender Nedum Onuoha has pointed out that the abuse has already started with the women's team. “News broke as the women’s team were on the way to London,” he said. “I know this from people who travelled - they were shocked, they weren’t expecting it. They got to Euston and there was a bus with a Man City badge on. When they arrived at the hotel, some of the stuff being said, to call it inappropriate would be an understatement.”
The men's team can expect similar, even if it remains the case that many people feel more confident shouting at women. It will flare up at away games in particular, where for tens of thousands of fans it will be their only opportunity of the season to get their feelings across in person.
Supporters have been calling City cheats for the last three years, as Anderson found out in his first away game since his big-money move. It is not going to be pretty, but it will be a surprise if it catches the players off guard given how used to the abuse they are.
