Manchester City Football Club

• Nickname:Sky Blues
• Founded:1887
• Manager:Roberto Mancini

• Ground:City of Manchester Stadium
• Capacity:47805

Sven calls for City respect

08 Feb 2008 - 08:18:39

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Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has urged the club's supporters to respect the minute's silence which will precede Sunday's derby at Old Trafford.

Eriksson is hoping there will be no repeat of the interruptions which marred the silence before Wednesday's England friendly with Switzerland to pay tribute to the eight Manchester United players who died in the Munich air disaster 50 years ago.

"I believe in being respectful and I know Manchester City Football Club has been built on respect," Eriksson told the club's official website.

"It was disappointing that the period of silence at the England game was disrupted and I hope everybody on Sunday will show maturity and respect for everyone who died at Munich.

"For anything else to happen would be a huge disappointment."

Meanwhile, Manchester United club secretary Ken Ramsden is confident the tribute will be impeccably honoured.

"At first we thought, 'oh hell's teeth, we've got City' but then you reflect on it and what we're doing," he said.

"It was an event that hit the whole of Manchester and it may be an opportunity to build a few bridges.

"They see it as a Manchester event and I think it may turn out to be a good choice of match.

"What we're doing is asking people to be quiet for one minute and show some respect for a football team that died 50 years ago.

"It's not a big deal really. If they want make up for it in the next 90 minutes with noise and support for their team then great."