BREAKING NEWS: Emergency services rush to Etihad Stadium as fire breaks out forcing Manchester City fans to be evacuated.
The Premier League champions are gearing up for a huge clash in the UEFA Champions League this week, with their fate in the competition in serious doubt after a run of four games without a win in the league phase format of the tournament.
Defeats to Sporting CP, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain, as well as a calamitous 3-3 home draw with Feyenoord, has meant that Manchester City come into their meeting with Club Brugge at the Etihad Stadium in 25th position – the elimination zone of the league format.
Their Belgian opponents are not to be taken lightly either, as Nicky Hayen’s squad come into the meeting with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on a run of 20 games without defeat across all competitions.
However, the pre-match build-up and ceremony outside of the home of the Premier League champion was thrown into chaos from around 5:45PM, after a fire broke out at a merchandise stand just metres from the Etihad Stadium itself.
It is understood that the blaze broke out shortly before 6PM on Wednesday night metres from the entrance where Pep Guardiola and his players were due to arrive later on the same evening.
“Manchester City FC can confirm that there has been a fire in one of the outside merchandise kiosks, located near the entrance to the Colin Bell West Stand,” the statement read.
“Emergency services are present at the scene and the fire has now been extinguished.
The safety of all attending the match tonight is our top priority, and as such all events planned for West Stand reception have been cancelled, including the welcome event for new players, and the first team arrival.”
Pep Guardiola and the Manchester City squad have since arrived at the Etihad Stadium, taking a different route into the arena as a result of earlier events and using a nearby service tunnel to arrive beneath the stadium itself.
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