- Empty seats spotted at Man City vs Crystal Palace
- Gabriel Agbonlahor takes aim at home fans
- Draws comparison between other clubs
Manchester City’s supporters have faced criticism from Gabriel Agbonlahor for failing to fill the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.
Those watching on at the Etihad Stadium had plenty to celebrate in midweek, with Manchester City beating Crystal Palace by three goals.
It was a night which saw the Citizens move to within two points of Arsenal, keeping the Premier League title race.
According to Man City, 51,738 spectators were watching on from the stands, but this figure is being debated in the media.
Gabriel Agbonlahor criticised Man City’s fanbase
Addressing apparent empty seats at the Etihad, ex-Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor had some words of criticism for Man City fans.
He was able to sympathise with how many matches they pay to attend, but he was unable to look past the sea of sky blues on display.
👀 Andy: "Gabby, a number of empty seats and changes. Were they a sign that fans have given up on the title?"
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) May 14, 2026
💥 Gabby: "No, it's a sign that they haven't got a strong fan base."
Gabby Agbonlahor delivers brutal verdict on Manchester City's empty seats vs Crystal Palace. 😳 pic.twitter.com/LjdEBYjIUK
Asked if this was a sign that the supporters had given up on the title, Agbonlahor replied: “No, it’s a sign that they’ve not got a strong fanbase.
I get it, they’re looking at maybe paying for their FA Cup tickets. So many games City have a season, I get it. But I think other clubs sell out no matter what with a bigger fanbase.”
Man City vs Crystal Palace was an impractical match to attend
Not every supporter is able to attend midweek matches due to various commitments and the fact it went on until almost 10pm local time.
Additionally, it was not like this was a crucial match for City in terms of actually moving close to winning the title.
Victory over Crystal Palace kept them in the fight, but Guardiola’s men are still behind Arsenal in the league table.
Pundits will do anything not to talk about City’s success
If we are being honest, the press will do anything to detract from any success Man City experience.
The important thing right now is that City have won the Carabao Cup, and are one victory away from lifting the FA Cup.
In addition to this, the Premier League is not yet out of reach, meaning a domestic treble is not out of the question, even if the chances are slim.
Agbonlahor and his mates can say what they like about Man City’s fans, but there are still thousands turning out to support their team each week.
What matters is that City are competing for trophies, and they will feel the full support of those taking time out of their busy weeks to buy tickets and back their team.
