![]() ![]() “We have played two Saturday home games and the stadium – from a City perspective at least, Norwich didn’t sell their full allocation – was full on both occasions. “Of course he would want a full house but I don’t know why he would question whether we’d have one against Southampton on Saturday,” he said. Our attendances are generally excellent.”Īdding to Parker’s frustration is that he would have expected a big crowd for the Premier League fixture on Saturday anyway. It’s a little bit of fun by the opposition supporters but there’s no justification for it. “People refer to the Etihad as the ‘Emptyhad’. It does also play into the hands of supporters from other teams who want to take every opportunity to have a go at City for what they think are the poor attendances. “To question the support, which is effectively what he is doing, is disappointing and uncalled for. People are talking more about Pep’s comments than a fantastic game. It just takes the edge off what was a good night. “He’s absolutely the best coach in the world but, in the nicest possible way, I think maybe he should stick to that. They’ve got kids to think of, they might not be able to afford it, there are still some Covid issues about … I don’t see why he comments on it. He doesn’t understand the difficulties that some people might have getting to a game at the Etihad on a Wednesday evening at 8pm. “I’m not sure what that’s got to do with him. However Kevin Parker, the general secretary of City’s official supporters’ club, feels the manager has inflamed the situation. TJFd2zDHN4- Football on BT Sport September 16, 2021Ĭity’s poor attendances for Champions League home games are often used as a stick to beat the club with by rival fans who have labelled it “the Emptyhad”. "I invite all our people to come Saturday, 3 pm, to watch the game."Ī rallying cry from Pep Guardiola. "I'd like more people to come on Saturday, we need the people." I invite all our people to come next Saturday, 3pm, and watch the game.” “We will need the people next Saturday, please, because we will be tired. “I would like more people to come to the next game on Saturday,” the manager told BT Sport after the Leipzig win. In a plea for fans to turn out in force for the champions’ Premier League fixture with Southampton on Saturday Guardiola laid bare his exasperation. In 2018, just over 40,000 watched City lose to Lyon in their opener while, two years before that, only 30,270 attended the Borussia Mönchengladbach match. The Etihad’s capacity is just under 54,000 but fans have often not packed the ground, especially for the opening home group match. That feeling within the supporter base has long frustrated the owners and management and it seemed to spill out into the public domain on Wednesday night as Guardiola hit out at the 38,062 crowd. The club has historically struggled to fill the stadium for European nights with many fans unconvinced by Uefa’s much-celebrated, rebranded tournament and have even booed the anthem prior to kick-off.
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