FIRE breaks out outside Man City’s Etihad Stadium – just two hours before critical Champions League clash
Manchester City’s critical Champions League night was thrown into turmoil after a merchandise store set on fire outside the Etihad Stadium.
Hundreds of fans were gathered nearby as they waited to welcome Pep Guardiola’s men outside the West Stand before their crunch clash with Club Bruges.
It is a must-win fixture for the Premier League champions, who will crash out of Europe’s elite competition for the first time since 2012-13 without three points.
The fire was contained after a quick response from emergency services and City confirmed within around 40 minutes that it had been extinguished. It is unclear how it began.
‘The safety of all attending the match tonight is our top priority, and as such all events planned for West Stand reception have been cancelled, including the welcome event for new players, and the first-team arrival,’ the club wrote on X.
Fans were speedily evacuated to a safe distance to allow the authorities to tackle the flames. The turnstiles for that part of the ground were taken out of use.
A Manchester City merchandise outlet set on fire ahead of their Champions League clash with Club Bruges
Fans were hastily evacuated from the scene as emergency services tackled the flames
The fire was close to the statue of the sprinter outside the Etihad Stadium
A truck from Greater Manchester’s Fire and Rescue service was on the scene within minutes of the blaze breaking out.
But the inferno is precisely the sort of disturbance that the hosts do not need as they seek to cling on to their Champions League dreams.
Exiting the Champions League at this stage would cost City at least £10million in prize money – and, given their habit of going far in the competition, likely much more.
Twenty-four out of the 36 teams in the competition advance to the next stage and City were given better odds of winning all eight of their group games rather than finishing on the eight they currently have.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: ‘Just before 6pm this evening, two fire engines from Blackley and Philips Park fire station were called to reports of a building fire involving an outbuilding on the car park of the football ground on Rowsley Street, Manchester.
‘Crews arrived quickly at the scene. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two hose reels to extinguish the fire, they are currently dampening down any hotspots and making the area safe.’
Bruges are no pushovers. The Belgian champions have already claimed one English scalp in the form of Aston Villa this season and held Juventus to a 0-0 draw in their last European assignment.
Asked if elimination would be embarrassing, Guardiola replied: ‘Thank you for your concern but after the game it will concern me and I will answer you.
A pop-up merchandising kiosk was the unfortunate victim of the conflagration on Wednesday
Fans were moved to a safe distance once it became clear what was happening
A truck from the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service was on hand speedily
Firefighters are pictured tackling the blaze shortly after 6pm on Wednesday evening
Hundreds of fans fans had been waiting by to welcome City and see a presentation with their new players, but that was cancelled
It is unclear how the fire began ahead of the Champions League clash with Club Bruges
‘We would like to score a lot in the first 20 minutes but I don’t think it is going to happen. We need to be completely relaxed, no emotion and understand the game. I know these type of games you need something special – something that has not been (seen) enough this year in the Champions League.
‘I appreciate your concern for if we don’t qualify but I think we are going to do it.’
Liverpool and Barcelona are the only two teams who have certainly qualified for the last 16 going into a blockbuster night of 18 concurrent games.
The top eight teams will have safe passage to the final 16 and avoid a two-leg knockout play-off stage.
Arsenal and Aston Villa could both finish inside the top eight, but if they do not, they will at least end inside the top 24 and make the play-offs.
Meanwhile, City are one of nine teams who could yet crash out of the competition.
That group also includes Bruges and French heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain.
