City’s UCL clash against Monchengladbach moved to Wednessday

Manchester City’s clash against German side Borussia Monchengladbach has been rescheduled for Wednesday evening following an adverse rain on Tuesday.

 

Heavy rain covered the pitch in the two hours before the scheduled 7.45pm Tuesday kick-off, forcing an abandonment, but UEFA have moved quickly to reschedule the tie.

Referee Bjorn Kuipers and officials inspected the surface at about 6.55pm and a decision to postpone was communicated around 30 minutes later.

A decision to call off the game was taken at around 7.25pm based on safety concerns around the ground. The German club later confirmed a rearranged time of 7.45pm Wednesday.

According to UEFA competition regulations – article 26.03 – a decision on a rearranged date should have been announced within two hours of the postponement, with the following day the clear preference.

Gladbach were the first to confirm with, moments later, UEFA tweeting: “The #UCL Group C fixture between @ManCity & @borussia_en will be played on Wednesday night at the same time (19.45 local time).”

It is understood City made Gladbach an offer of accommodation at their £200million academy adjacent to the stadium, while it was confirmed all tickets would still be valid for Wednesday.

Gladbach admitted they were not happy with the final decision.

Club spokesman Markus Aretz said: “We asked UEFA and Manchester City play at 6pm because for sporting reasons we wanted to fly back to Germany.

“That was important for us, but City could not make that possible. I don’t know the reasons why, they said we had to play at 7.45 like today. So UEFA had to make the decision to play at 7.45. We are not happy with that, but we have to take it like it is.

“City offered us to spend the next night in the academy. That was no help because a hotel was not a problem.

“I think it is always a disadvantage when you have to stay one day longer than planned. I think for the away team it is a disadvantage, without fans.”

City themselves announced the news via Twitter.

CONFIRMED: We will take on

@borussia tomorrow (Wednesday) at 19:45.

Manchester City

@ManCity

It has been reported that Borussia wanted an early kick-off but City didn’t have the stewards available at that time to make that possible.

Fans will be able to use their tickets for Tuesday’s postponed game to get into the stadium for the rescheduled tie on Wednesday