Manchester City supporters gave their team a warm send-off at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, even though Paris Saint-Germain won a high-scoring Champions League match 4-2.
Former manager Pep Guardiola attended the match, sitting in the stands near chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and chief executive Ferran Soriano.
The pre-match build-up featured fireworks and a mosaic reading “City ‘Til I Die” in the stand that carries his name, as Guardiola was sung around the ground at kick-off.
The holders took the opening period with Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha scoring to give PSG a 3-0 half-time lead, and City unable to find their rhythm.
City’s reaction in the second half was widely noted as Head coach Enzo Maresca made three changes at the interval, and the home side produced a spell of sustained attacking pressure.
Erling Haaland giving the hope with Maghnes Akliouche also found the net after a save by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma fell behind him.
The performance was “praiseworthy” given the difficulty of the first half.
Also, Guardiola showed real emotion from the directors’ box, clutching his face when Josko Gvardiol’s header was cleared off the line.
Maresca was positive afterwards and said the second-half display had given the team belief for any rematch with PSG.
“They are the best team in Europe,” Maresca said, while adding that City felt they had done enough after the break to deserve something from the game.
He explained that conceding twice early in the match had caused the team’s difficulties, and said that they were “quite happy” with the response that followed.
Former City defender Nedum Onuoha, speaking as a pundit for Match of the Day, called the game great entertainment.
“Early-season Champions League stage often produces open matches with plenty of goals, and the second-half intensity came from City’s changes and their home crowd,” the Defender added.
PSG head coach Luis Enrique was praised for noting that his side’s win added City to the list of Premier League opponents they have beaten in the competition.
City now turn to domestic action, with a home match against Ipswich Town on Saturday, and the club’s off-field position remains subject to the outcome of its appeal.
