On the day Manchester City celebrated their past, they encountered unexpected and unusual difficulties in their present. The Etihad Stadium has a new look, with a statue of Colin Bell, Francis Lee and Mike Summerbee unveiled outside it, but there was a strange sight on the pitch, too. Pep Guardiola’s European champions were two goals down to RB Leipzig, fortress Etihad set to be breached in Europe for the first time in more than five years.
Instead, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden conjured a comeback, two who may end their City careers immortalised in bronze alongside the greats of the 1960s ensuring the unbeaten run at home in continental competition will extend into 2024. Julian Alvarez came off the bench to take City’s return in 2023 to 24 wins in 25 home games and, for a seventh successive season, they will top their Champions League group. It could lead to a more favourable tie in the last 16. If Bell, Lee and Summerbee, for all their other achievements, never won a game in the old European Cup with City, Guardiola’s team could retain their trophy.
