They still could do that. For all we know they are trying to work with UEFA to address what happened and then release a statement not only expressing regret with what happened but providing some concrete remunerations and actionable steps to prevent such situations in the future. They obviously can’t go back in time and change the outcome, but perhaps they want to do more than merely release a trite statement of disappointment. I have heard from someone at City that supporter services are quite unhappy with what happened in Istanbul (several different situations, including the treatment of disabled fans and the way transport was facilitated—or not—to and from the stadium).
As a now disable fan myself, I would rather wait for a response with actual actions to prevent in the appalling treatment in the future. That comes from a place of constantly being merely told that some entity regrets incidents and will work to prevent them in the future, but there being no details as to how that will happen and never seeing much done to actually improve things.
That is just me, though; I understand others want more aggressive action from the club.
Ultimately, as much as I understand your perspective is based on your various less than satisfactory interactions with the club as a member of City Matters and in other capacities, I just can’t be convinced the club don’t care about the match going fans—especially the born and bred blues—at all.
Could they do better? Absolutely.
Are things for fans actually worse than most other clubs? I don’t think so.
Are things better for the fans than before the takeover? I believe they are.
I just feel as though you are perhaps fixated on perfection and that will lead to you always being disappointed with the club, as they’ll never be able to fully meet your vision.
To be honest, I struggle with that, too, as someone that has suffered from OCD basically my entire life. The disappointment and frustration of never being able to realise perfection in my various endeavours has caused all manner of pain and misery for me, and it’s taken years to be able to suppress that desire in favour of a more reasonable expectation of a trend of improvement (accepting I will never achieve perfection). And even more work to not expect it if others, which caused even more misery and, often, isolation.
At any rate, I understand not everyone will be happy with the club, no matter how successful we are on and off the pitch. It’s your and every fans’ right to criticise the club. I just hope it doesn’t get to a point of what we are seeing with fans across the way, is all.
That is what I desperately want to avoid.
The game has moved on from what many of us going in the 70’s and beyond experienced and loved. The club has also moved on big time and is now a world leader on and off the pitch. Christ, can you imagine that - lickle old City!
The big business and money that fuels high ticket prices and media horseshit (inc social media)kick off times and everything else that’s wrong with football are things the vast majority of us blues can put up with if the result is the wonder and glory we have seen and will remember for ever.
But we would not be where we are if not for the fans. That was proven time and again in the late 90’s and beyond. Sheikh Mansour I bet had barely heard of City before the takeover yet this club has been the heart of Manchester and within the heart of families for generation upon generation. Into a third century.
I know Sebastian Blue that the 2 way interaction many of us crave won’t ever happen - things are too far down the road for that. But one of the greatest human needs is to feel valued - that you, no matter who you are, whatever your circumstances, have something to offer and can be appreciated. So for us blues, yes of course the glory and success is beyond our dreams but it won’t be here for ever, yet the core of us blues born, drawn or converted to the cause will be.
That’s why some word from the club trying at least to empathise and make things better would be well received. Yes, Pep talks about the sacrifice KDB made playing through the pain and personal issues - and I love him for that. But what about at least acknowledging the sacrifices, financial, physical, personal, work related, health related, dignity related ( the treatment of vulnerable fans was awful) that thousands of blues made twice in a week.
And what are City Matters and more importantly the supporters club doing about this? I would dearly hope they are not going down the “client journalists” turning a blind eye to the corruption and degradation of this country in return for access favours and the rest.
Ironically, City are now brand leaders whatever that means (I do know but am being a near old git) so why not be brand leaders with fans? It’s not just about offering facilities ( which we have to pay to use)- it’s about offering something that’s not transactional and that can’t be measured financially.
Anyway, sincerely hope I’m proved wrong in the rest of Khaldoon’s interview.