This archive report was first published on 17 September 2021.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has sparked controversy among fans after urging them to fill empty seats at the Etihad stadium.
Guardiola made the comments this week, stating that he wanted a bigger crowd at the team's home game against Southampton than the 38,062 who watched their 6-3 Champions League win over RB Leipzig in midweek.
City's poor attendances and flat atmosphere for some European games have often been used as taunts by rival fans, but crowds of over 50,000 turned up to watch their opening two Premier League games.
Guardiola's comments annoyed some supporters, who felt the manager had questioned their loyalty, but he said that was a misinterpretation of his comments.
At his pre-match press conference on Friday, Guardiola said, 'Did I say after the game against Leipzig that I was disappointed that the stadium was not full? An interpretation is an interpretation.'
He added, 'I am not going to apologise for what I said. What I said was we would love, and we need, the support.'
Guardiola emphasized that he would never criticize fans for being unable to attend games, saying, 'I am entirely grateful for the support that we had against Leipzig. I never have the words to ask why people don’t come. If you can’t come then don’t come. If you want to come it’s a pleasure, if you don’t, then don’t.'
