“Unacceptable”, “Highly embarrassing”, “Horrendous” – Manchester City receive major backlash for pre-match decision

Manchester City’s pre-match attire in Champions League competition has faced a fierce backlash from football pundits and supporters on social media.

Pep Guardiola’s side took a significant step towards qualification for the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday evening, with Manchester City securing their third successive 3-1 win of the Group G campaign.

After wins against both Red Star Belgrade and RB Leipzig, Manchester City travelled to Switzerland to face BSC Young Boys on matchday three of the UEFA Champions League Group Stages.

Manuel Akanji’s early second-half goal was quickly cancelled out by Meschak Elia, before Erling Haaland’s brace -including a strike from the penalty sport – propelled the Sky Blues to another Champions League victory.

The Norwegian, who netted his first goal of the European campaign on Wednesday night, restored Manchester City’s lead from the penalty spot, prior to securing the victory with an emphatic strike.

Pep Guardiola made a series of changes for the clash at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern, as Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, and John Stones all dropped to the substitutes bench ahead of the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Manchester City were also forced to change their pre-match arrangements ahead of the fixture due to the artificial pitch at the Wankdorf Stadium, as the Sky Blues wanted to train on the surface before the game.

However, Manchester City’s pre-match attire has become an unlikely talking point, with the Dsquared2 designer range coming under heavy criticism from football pundits and supporters on social media.

Fans were quick to question the bold cardigan and jeans combination, with the fashion brand having provided UEFA Champions League attire to Manchester City for the past seven years.

Former Manchester City defender and now TNT Sports Pundit Joleon Lescott commented, “When it doesn’t look good on Jack Grealish, then I’m like yeah.”

Meanwhile, fellow TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole described the attire as “unacceptable,” and “horrendous,” as he called on the club to “sort the gear out” as they arrived at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern.

Supporters were also quick to comment on X, with one fan describing the clothes as “highly embarrassing” and another asking for an “automatic ban from all of football.”

“That is f****** dreadful,” tweeted one supporter, while another said, “surely that’s another charge for dressing like absolute morons.”