Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has urged the fans to start attending Champions League matches. City thrashed Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-0 in front of 30,000 fans, which is pretty low compared to how many the Etihad can actually hold.
“Our fans have to know that we play for them,” he said after the final whistle. “It’s our job and we are here. But to play without our fans? Then there’d be no reason for us to be here. Our fans have to know that we need them in the Champions League.” Guardiola said.
Etihad has a capacity of almost 53,000 people.
“In the Premier League, everybody comes here, but in the Champions League the people don’t come. We need them to compete against the best teams in the world. We can’t make something good in the Champions League in the upcoming years without them. With our supporters and our songs, we are stronger. I think, honestly, our players deserve the stadium completely full. Hopefully against Barcelona and Celtic it will happen,” he added.
Guardiola was also unhappy with the way the fans have jeered the Champions League anthem. In 2014 City was supposed to play CSKA behind closed doors but UEFA allowed their supporters to watch the match.
I was not here to see what happened, but they can forget it,” said Guardiola. “They must forget what happened in the past. We have to be proud to play in this competition. Not all the teams can play this competition.”
