1 week ago
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is only expecting more noise against Leeds if the players earn it
Pep Guardiola said that Manchester City fans will give the team exactly what they need at the Etihad - if the players do their jobs to recognise the effort of the supporters. The manager admitted that he would not have cheered for the team on Tuesday night in their 2-0 defeat to Leverkusen and accused them of 'not trying'.
Anyone who saw a programme for the Champions League match will have read high praise for the fans from Guardiola. "The atmosphere you guys created was special and my players were superb," he wrote in his notes. "On days like that, our stadium is an incredible place to play football, so thank you."
That was not the case on Tuesday as a team with 10 changes played out a miserable defeat to lose a seven-year streak of never losing a home game in the first Champions League phase. A number of players threw their arms in the air towards the stands over the course of the 90 minutes to try and get a response from the crowd, but none came and at one of the loudest points of the night City conceded their second goal.
Guardiola sided with the fans over any players wanting more noise, explaining that they have shown in the last decade that they give more when they feel like they are getting plenty from those on the pitch. "As a fan, I would not cheer my team, playing in the way we played," said the coach. Because, obviously, people have to do all the great things.
"I blame myself to not read that maybe should have been protective with the players I played lately. To give that security to try the thing. So, it doesn't matter what happens. it's just to try. We didn't try.
"It's not to play good or bad. It's not even try. That was the problem. Our fans make the effort to come to see us. And we are incredibly grateful to come. And I know the stadium because I've been for many, many years. If you do what you have to do, they are there. And this is what you have to try to do."
English (US) ·