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- A clash has broken out between City鈥檚 esteemed manager and a section of the team鈥檚 followers after Guardiola鈥檚 plea for 鈥渕ore people鈥� to attend City鈥檚 Premier League home match against Southampton
- The attendance against Leipzig was 38,062 and the Etihad鈥檚 capacity is about 55,000
MANCHESTER: For Pep Guardiola, it was a rallying cry ahead of what he expects to be a tough game.
For some Manchester City supporters, it was an ill-timed comment that questioned the loyalty of the club鈥檚 fan base.
A clash has broken out between City鈥檚 esteemed manager and a section of the team鈥檚 followers after Guardiola鈥檚 plea for 鈥渕ore people鈥� to attend City鈥檚 Premier League home match against Southampton on Saturday 鈥� three days after a hard-fought 6-3 win over Leipzig in the Champions League at Etihad Stadium.
The attendance against Leipzig was 38,062. The Etihad鈥檚 capacity is about 55,000.
One of the people unhappy with Guardiola鈥檚 remarks was Kevin Parker, general secretary of City鈥檚 official supporters鈥� club, who accused the Spaniard of failing to understand the difficulties of attending games on a midweek evening and playing into the hands of opposition teams鈥� fans who often taunt City for not having capacity crowds at some matches.
鈥淗e鈥檚 absolutely the best coach in the world but, in the nicest possible way, I think maybe he should stick to that,鈥� said Parker, who described Guardiola鈥檚 comments were 鈥渄isappointing and uncalled for.鈥�
Guardiola responded to Parker on Friday in a news conference ahead of the Southampton game, saying he would 鈥渄efinitely not鈥� be apologizing for his comments and that there had been a 鈥渕isunderstanding.鈥�
鈥淒on鈥檛 misunderstand or put words in my mouth that I didn鈥檛 say,鈥� Guardiola said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I don鈥檛 like. I never will be a problem for my fans. If I am a problem for my fans, I will step aside. Not a problem for me.鈥�
Guardiola said he had seen his players look 鈥渆xhausted鈥� in the locker room after the end-to-end game against Leipzig and quickly realized they would need fans to get behind them against Southampton, given the quick turnaround of the games and Southampton鈥檚 pressing game and energetic style.
鈥淲hen you play in the Champion League, it鈥檚 so demanding on your physicality, and mentally, when they (Southampton) have a long week to prepare the game,鈥� Guardiola said. 鈥淪o that鈥檚 why we need to be all together 鈥� the players, the supporters, everyone, to help us to do our best. I know exactly our fans will be there tomorrow to support, and hopefully Mr. Parker can come to watch us.
鈥淢r. Parker,鈥� Guardiola added, should 鈥渞eview his comments.鈥�
City has struggled to fill the Etihad for some home games in the Champions League, especially in the first one of each season鈥檚 group stage. It has led to some rivals fans using the nickname 鈥渢he Emptyhad.鈥�
There are some reasons given for the lower European attendances 鈥� some fans鈥� disaffection with the tournament organizer, UEFA, for what they perceive as unfair sanctions handed to, or affecting, City in the Champions League; City being involved in games in so many competitions that fans pick and choose matches; the pandemic affecting fans鈥� finances; a digital ticketing system that doesn鈥檛 allow fans to transfer tickets to others if they can鈥檛 attend a midweek game.
The fan bases of City鈥檚 main rivals in English soccer, including Manchester United and Liverpool, are far bigger globally.
鈥淲e are who we are. We are proud of who we are,鈥� Guardiola said. 鈥淚 know the history, I learned about the history of this club when it was in the lower division, and what it means to travel and follow the team. I respect it a lot.鈥�
City has had near-capacity crowds for its first two home matches of the Premier League season 鈥� 5-0 wins over Norwich and Arsenal.