Kyle Walker has denied Manchester City’s players are affected by the supporters’ inability to warm to the Champions League even though he admits it is far tougher for them to play in more hostile atmospheres away from home than it is for visiting teams to the Etihad.

City’s opening group game defeat at home to Lyon came in front thousands of empty seats and manager Pep Guardiola has previously argued that the club are not ready to win the Champions League because the fans are not excited by that challenge.

Whereas some English clubs, most notably when Liverpool play at Anfield, treat European nights with special reverence, City remain largely ambivalent and there will once again be a below capacity crowd for the match against Ukraine champions Shakhtar Doentsk on Wednesday night.

Walker, though, tried to avoid criticising supporters for failing to embrace the competition, insisting it was up to the players to help generate an atmosphere and excitement in the competition.

Asked if the Etihad Stadium lacked the sort of atmosphere teams need to win European football’s most prestigious prize, Walker replied: “No, definitely not.