Guardiola reacts to City fans' boos

[JamieMCFC]

Pep Guardiola told Manchester City to forget about UEFA and turn up for their team after a resounding statement of intent against Borussia Monchengladbach.

A 90-minute stroll against Germans was preceded by the usual booing of the Champions League anthem by the Etihad crowd.

City fans are not short of reasons to be displeased with European football's governing body - the recent decision to give more weight to historic performance in ranking teams is the latest addition to a sorry-looking rap sheet.

But the man tasked with taking City to the next level as a club wants that to be left behind in order to make it easier for him and the team to succeed.

"I was not here, I don't know what happened, but they must forget what happened in the past," the manager said.

"The people can talk about our club and our team.

"What only we can do is play every time better than the day before and (make) people say 'Wow, I'm going to the Etihad Stadium because 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.

"What happened in the past is the past - forget about it.

"We have to be so proud to play in this competition to play against the best teams in Europe. Coming here in three or four weeks are the best football player ever with Luis Suarez and Neymar and all of the amazing team at Barcelona and they have to come here to enjoy it.

"The people are listening so I am sure they are going to do that.

"We are going to work until the last moment to convince people to come here to join us."

While the 24-hour postponement of the fixture had much to do with the attendance of 30,270, Guardiola is aware that the Champions League is not received with as much love in the stands as the main domestic competition.

"Our fans they have know we play for them," he said.

"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 Champions 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.

"We cannot make something good in the Champions League this year or next year without them.

"With our supporters and their songs, we are stronger.

"I think what these players have done from the beginning home and away, 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. That is my wish for the future."

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... o-11888707

[michaelcityfan]

We have to continue to boo the crooks anthem the latest efforts to include Istory are despicable and only Martin Samuels had the guts to write about it.
Anyway at the moment I fancy us to win it given current form.

[edgeley blue]

Winning the thing is the best way of fucking these people over. I've always put the prem first, but it's time to win the champions league.

We can still protest, I've always booed, not as vociferous as the years go by because I've thought it could be negative toward the team. Players sign for us because we play in it and feel proud to hear the tune. They in the main don't care about behind the scenes stuff and we shouldn't care whether they do either.

If the booing was then proceeded by 90 minutes of cheering and chanting and booing the opposition every time they touched the ball then great, alas it isn't; and yes I do go so am speaking from experience.

Winning the champions league brings everything we need to put a nail in the rag cunts coffin also which has to be a bonus.

I've suffered for years watching City and I'm enjoying every minute of it and as a greedy bastard I want us to win everything. If that means protest in a different way then so be it.

[Tokyo Blue]

To paraphrase Senor Guardiola himself, City fans have our principles and they are not negotiable. The fans have embraced his principles to the tune of accepting him unceremoniously removing a club legend and still chanting his name. Well, that has to start working both ways. He needs to embrace some of our principles now, starting with this.

He also wants to do some research into why it is happening and do it very fast.

It does not damage the team. Proof: we got further than ever before in the competition both last season and the previous season.

The only reason I can see to not back the fans is to appease uefa and if that is the case...

[MonchengladbachBlau]

Just watched the actual video of Pep's press conference after the game and realised to what extent the media whipped up a storm on this simple matter by distorting what Pep said rather than having to say how well the team played.

Pep needs to learn what worms the UK press are and how they will twist anything and especially not to say anything where it can be twisted into criticism of of City fans.

In 16 September 1992 Gary Neville made his debut at the Swamp in front of less than 20000 fans. Do not expect that anniversary and the attendance to be mentioned anywhere in the press. As we all know the Swamp has always been full to the rafters.