Manchester City suffers shock defeat to Bodo/Glimt
Erling Haaland issued a heartfelt apology following Manchester City’s humiliating 3-1 Champions League defeat to Norwegian underdogs Bodo/Glimt, describing the result as “embarrassing,” reports BritPanorama.
The 25-year-old striker endured a miserable homecoming as his side suffered one of the competition’s greatest upsets. The team’s performance sent shockwaves through the football community, particularly given the context of their prior successes in the tournament.
“I take full responsibility for not being able to score. I apologise to everyone, every single City supporter that travelled,” Haaland said. His admission comes at a time when his personal goalscoring drought has extended to just one goal—a penalty against Brighton—across his last eight matches.
Pep Guardiola conceded that his team’s fortunes have taken a dire turn following the Arctic Circle catastrophe. “The feeling is that everything is going wrong,” the City manager admitted after witnessing what ranks among the Champions League’s most shocking results. The freezing -9C conditions in Norway compounded a dreadful seven days for the club, following their loss in the Manchester derby.
Guardiola acknowledged his squad’s fragility due to missing key personnel, drawing comparisons to difficulties faced last season. He noted, “It’s going against us in many, many details, and that is a fact, and we have to try to change it.”
City’s automatic qualification hopes now rest on a knife-edge, with Guardiola’s men requiring victory against Galatasaray next Wednesday to maintain any realistic chance of securing a top-eight finish. Before that crucial European encounter, they must first navigate a Premier League clash against Wolves in four days’ time.
The Spaniard lamented the missed opportunity in Norway, emphasising that results throughout 2025 have been disappointing both domestically and in Europe. His commitment to addressing these challenges remains steadfast. “The players are there, and we’ll try,” he said.
Bodo/Glimt’s manager Kjetil Knutsen hailed the triumph as the most significant in his club’s history. “I feel amazing. I think we played a really good game because we know we’re playing a world-class team,” he remarked. The Norwegian coach praised Jens Petter Hauge for his spectacular strike, which Haaland himself described as “the goal of the year.”
With their impressive performance, the minnows from the Arctic town could yet secure a play-off berth if they defeat Atletico Madrid in their final group stage fixture. “There are always opportunities in football, even if you come from a small town like Bodo,” Knutsen added.
As the dust settles on this significant upset, one can’t help but reflect on the unpredictable nature of football, reminding fans and players alike that even giants can stumble in the most surprising ways.
