Friday , March 29 2024

Pep Guardiola pleads with fans to back Manchester City in Europe and stop booing Champions League anthem.

Pep Guardiola urged Manchester City’s fans to end their feud with the Champions League as he outlined how crucial a buoyant atmosphere is to their ambitions.

As has been the case since 2012, City’s fans booed the Champions League anthem when it started ahead of the game with Borussia Monchengladbach; the negativity surrounding that, though, did not last as Guardiola’s side began their campaign with a thumping 4-0 win.

The game, however, was watched by a crowd of only 30,270 and the huge number of empty seats left Guardiola perplexed.

He made a point of explaining why he wants the booing of the anthem to stop and why he hopes this performance will convince the stay away supporters to return.

‘Our fans, they have to know we play for them,’ said Guardiola. ‘It is our job, we are here but without fans there is no reason why we are here. Our fans have to know we need them in the Champion League. In the Premier League everyone comes here but in the Champions League they don’t.

‘We need them to compete against the best teams in the world. With our supporters and their songs, we are stronger.

‘I think these players have done from the beginning, our players deserve the stadium completely full. Hopefully against Barcelona and Celtic it will happen and if you are able to go to the next stage. I think today it is a good moment to enjoy our football with the fans.’

Expanding on the theme, Guardiola – who has never failed to reach the Champions League semi-finals in seven years as a manager and won it twice with Barcelona – forcefully illustrated why the heckling of the Champions League theme must end.

Kelechi Iheanacho scores City’s fourth but only 30,270 were at the Etihad to see the game

‘I was not here what happened but they must forget what happened in the past,’ said Guardiola, whose side were not inconvenienced by a 24-hour rain delay. ‘What only we can do is play every time better and people say I spend 90 minutes there and I have fun.

‘Today the stadium is not completely full so the only thing we can do is play good so the people at home say wow next time I will be there. We have to be so proud to play in this competition. In the next three or four weeks, the best football player ever (Lionel Messi) is coming.

‘There is Luis Suarez and Neymar and Barcelona and we have to enjoy it. The people are listening so I am sure they are going to do that.

‘The next step with this club is to be there every single season, quarter final, semi-final and maybe in the final. It is not the point to arrive once and after disappear.’

Guardiola, meanwhile, has urged Sergio Aguero to have more faith in his finishing ability in the penalty area as he hailed Ilkay Gundogan’s sparkling long-awaited debut following his arrival from Borussia Dortmund.

Aguero took his tally for the season to nine goals in six games with a hat-trick against Moenchengladbach that propelled Manchester City to a 4-0 win, the seventh straight victory of Guardiola’s reign.

The Argetine was lethal but Guardiola said: ‘I wanted to convince Sergio that his talent in the box is natural. I cannot teach him that but he has know that behind him, the rest of the team wants to help him and that is what I want to convince him.

‘I think Sergio is good because he is good, not because he was good with Manuel (Pellegrini). He was good with national team.’

Gundogan rivalled Aguero for being the game’s standout performer, taking advantage of an injury that forced David Silva out.

Guardiola said: ‘Midfielders of his quality are so intelligent. I thought he was not ready to play 90 minutes but he played with the quality he has.

‘Both legs, so intelligent, don’t lose the ball, real good when he arrives in the box. Thank you so much to Txiki Begiristain for buying him because he is going to be important for us.’

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