Man City vs Real Madrid thriller rubbishes claim that fans 'don't get' the Champions League

As thousands of Manchester City supporters filed out of the Etihad Stadium and headed back towards the city centre, there was a subtle, but still noticeable, sense of disappointment in the air.

A feeling that, like on a few occasions this season, City had failed to put their opponents to the sword and had suffered the consequences, that a huge opportunity had been squandered.

It says an awful lot about the attitude of City fans that, having just seen their team score four goals against Real Madrid in a breathless display of attacking brilliance, some were borderline unhappy. Of course, the glass-half-full types were delighted, the adrenaline of 90 minutes of thrilling Champions League football expressing itself through chanting and singing on the walk down Ashton New Road.

READ MORE:Pep Guardiola sends 'heads up' message to Man City players after Real Madrid thriller

Whether thrilled or stressed, satisfied or disappointed, one thing was clear: City fans clearly care a lot about the Champions League, and anyone who suggests otherwise is just plain wrong.

It's a favourite pastime of certain pundits to criticise the atmosphere - or supposed lack-of - generated at the Etihad Stadium on Champions League nights. They never tire of remarking how much more 'special' these occasions feel at Old Trafford and Anfield, and that the only explanation must be that City fans just 'don't get' the competition.

As Pep Guardiola has repeatedly pointed out, it's a fact that City have little history to speak of in the competition. The Blues made their debut 10-and-a-half years ago, and reached the semi-finals for the first time in 2016. Compared to the legend of 13-time winners Real Madrid, City's tale in Europe's premier club competition is