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MANCHESTER. — Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola warned supporters the club cannot achieve success in the Champions League soccer unless they start fully embracing the competition.
Sergio Aguero scored a hat-trick as City opened their Group C campaign with a classy 4-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday night in a game that had been postponed on Tuesday due to heavy rain.
But as in previous group-stage games, the Etihad Stadium was far from full, with only 30 270 spectators present in an arena that can hold 53 000 on European nights.
“Our fans, they have to know that we play for them,” Guardiola said.
“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.”
City reached the Champions League semi-finals last season under Guardiola’s predecessor, Manuel Pellegrini.
Guardiola, a two-time Champions League winner with Barcelona, also called on City’s supporters to end their practice of booing the competition’s anthem. — AFP.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter