Manchester City will temporarily rename their Etihad Stadium to 'The City in the Community Etihad Stadium' for this weekend's Premier League clash with Brentford. The change is part of the club's annual Community Matchday, which highlights the work of its official charity, City in the Community (CITC).
In addition to the stadium rebranding, players will wear jackets featuring the charity's logo, and defender Ruben Dias has recorded travel announcements for matchday buses and trams. Social media graphics for the game have been designed by local schoolchildren.
Mike Geary, CEO of CITC, said: 'Community Matchday is a moment in the season where everyone connected to Manchester City comes together to celebrate the impact of City in the Community. From supporters in the stands to staff, partners and participants, it's a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when a football club and its community unite behind a shared purpose.'
On the pitch, City are looking to bounce back from a 3-3 draw with Everton, which left them five points behind league leaders Arsenal, albeit with a game in hand. Manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged the challenge, stating: 'We need to win our games. Now it is not in our hands. If they win their games the title will be for Arsenal.'
The match against Brentford on Saturday is crucial for City's title hopes, and Guardiola emphasised the need to recover quickly: 'We have Brentford on Saturday and we continue and we'll see what happens. Better effort cannot be possible.'
