Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola admitted there were few benefits to playing in an empty stadium as his team beat CSKA Moscow, 1-0, at the Arena Khimki in a UEFA Champions League Group Eclash on Tuesday. The Russian club’s stadium was closed by UEFA due to its fans’ display of “a range of racist and far-right symbols” in a game against Viktoria Plzen lastyear.”
Communication is a little better for a coach when there are no fans but it is much better with fans in the stands,” Guardiola said after the match. “Football is played for thepeople, not for us. I hope these things that have happened won’t happen again.”
Meanwhile, Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was more forthright in his criticism, claiming: “Thiswas football how I never want to experience it again. I have been around for 40 years and it was the first time I have taken part in something like this. When I watch our training from my office thereis more atmosphere than there was here.”