I'm from London and went to Manchester on holiday — one thing was truly special
manchestereveningnews.co.ukThere’s a joke at Manchester City that only two things in its Etihad Stadium are red – fire exits and ketchup. As we take a tour around the football ground, our guide, Andy, embellishes the tale with a mischievous grin. ‘‘We’ve been trying to change the ketchup to blue,’’ he teases, ‘‘but it doesn’t look right on our chips.’’ Quips aside, the Etihad tour gives football fans of any description a fascinating glimpse into team tactics.
Showing us around the home changing room, Andy told how City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola insisted it was round so that every player felt included during team chats.
To avoid cliques, Pep insists that only English is spoken and chooses where everyone sits, splitting up players of the same nationalities and placing the most experienced among the newbies.
Each player is provided with two brand new shirts per match and only their shin pads can be personalised. Andy also revealed how superstitious Kyle Walker always wears the shin pads his mum bought him as a 14-year-old schoolboy, handed over with the stern instruction to look after them.
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