Friday’s punishment – which City say they will appeal in opposition to at the Court of Arbitration for Sport – has cast a shadow over the club’s future but introduced a defiant reaction from their followers inside the ground.
There were popular anti-Uefa chants in the first half, with the loudest coming just after Rodri had met Kevin de Bruyne’s nook at the near post to break the deadlock with a flicked header that Aymeric Laporte may have helped over the line.
City’s supporters had delivered banners too, with some analyzing ‘Uefa cartel’ and ‘Uefa mafia’, and there were also masses of songs in assist of manager Pep Guardiola and the club’s owner Sheikh Mansour.
On the pitch, the City players virtually did not seem to be missing any focus and only some poor finishing, especially by Gabriel Jesus, stopped this from being a tons more satisfied Premier League victory.
West Ham offered little in response, managing only 5 touches in the opposition area, and failing to register a single shot at goal till Michail Antonio blasted over with 15 minutes left.
The Hammers stay in the relegation zone, a point adrift of safety after a run of six league games without a win and with a outing to Anfield looming on Monday as their subsequent test.
At the other cease of the table, Guardiola’s side are now four points clear of third-placed Leicester but even this win leaves them a far-off 2nd to leaders Liverpool, who are 22 points clear with 12 games remaining.
Off the pitch, City are simply up for the fight however they will have to be the equal on it, with three competitions nevertheless up for grabs even though the defence of their Premier League title is all but over.
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