Borussia Monchengladbach fans handed sick notes by the club so they could attend Manchester City game

The game was postponed for 24 hours after torrential rain in Manchester

Borussia Monchengladbach players applaud their fans after the game was postponed (Getty Images)

When Uefa postponed Manchester City’s Champions League game against Borussia Monchengladbach on Tuesday night, thousands of Germans were left with the dilemma of whether to stay an extra day or not.

Many defiant fans stayed in the north-west to see the rearranged fixture 24 hours later rather than travelling back to Germany and they have been provided with a sick note for their jobs by the Bundesliga club.

Gladbach left the letters on the seats of the away section of the Etihad and signed by Max Ebert, the club’s sporting director.

The letter translated as reading: “Dear boss, unfortunately your employee (name) cannot appear at work on this Thursday as he is in Manchester to fulfil an important duty to support VFL Borussia Monchengladbach in the Uefa Champions League.

“We thank you for accepting his apology to stay away for one day.

“We regret for whatever inconvenience this may have for your company but, at the same time, hope for your understanding. Kind regards from Manchester.”

The club have also promised to reimburse all away tickets for the fixture which was postponed after a flash storm left puddles on the pitch and waterlogged the walkways around the Etihad Stadium.

Gladbach wanted the fixture to be played in the afternoon or early evening on the Wednesday to allow their players and supports to travel home on the same day but due to stewarding limitations it was not possible.

The Gladbach fans were singing throughout although some of them must have wished they were back in work instead as City ran out 4-0 winners thanks to a Sergio Aguero hat-trick.