Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola has called on the club’s supporters to start coming out en mass to cheer the team in their Champions League games.
Compared to previous group-stage games, the Etihad Stadium was far from full, with only 30,270 spectators present in an arena that was opened to 53,000.
The Spaniard said, “Our fans, they have to know that we play for them.
“It’s our job, we are here, but to play without our fans, there is no reason why we are here. Our fans have to know that we need them in the Champions League.
“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, what these players have done from the beginning, our players deserve the stadium completely full.
“Hopefully against Barcelona and Celtic (their other group opponents), it will happen.”
He further urged City’s supporters to end their practice of booing the Champions League anthem.
The club’s supporters have jeered the anthem since CSKA Moscow supporters managed to watch a game against them in 2014 despite it being played behind closed doors as a punishment for racism by the Russian club’s fans.
They also felt harshly treated by Financial Fair Play sanctions meted out to City by European governing body, UEFA, the same year.
Guardiola added, “I was not here (to see) what happened, but they can forget it. They must forget what happened in the past.”
“Today the stadium is not completely full, so the only thing we can do is play good so the people watching at home say: ‘Wow, next time I’m going to be there.’
“We have to be so proud to play in this competition. Not all the teams can play this competition.
“In three or four weeks coming here is the best football player ever (Lionel Messi), with Luis Suarez, with Neymar and the amazing Barcelona team, and we have to come here to enjoy it.
“The people are listening to me, so I am sure they are going to do that.”
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