For all Manchester City’s money, they still can’t buy a decent atmosphere.
City vs. Borussia Monchengladbach – take two after Tuesday’s game was postponed due to adverse weather conditions – saw a mesmerising performance from the hosts, Sergio Aguero more than making up for his Premier League ban with a hat-trick.
The only downside to the Sky Blues’ display was that so few of their fans were there to see it. Those that were continued their tradition of booing the Champions League anthem as a mark of disdain for UEFA, who have caused City problems in the past with Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.
Pep Guardiola was clearly unimpressed with the Etihad faithful, even the ones that did turn up.
Speaking to reporters after the game, the manager insisted:
“They must forget what happened in the past. We are here to create (history) for the people to talk about our club.
“Only what we can do is play every time better than before so people say, ‘wow, I spent 90 minutes there and I had fun. Next time I will be there’.
“Today the stadium was not completely full so the only thing we can do is play good. We have to be so proud to play in this competition.
The City fans who stayed away missed one of the first indicators that their side could finally be ready to win the Champions League, their most coveted prize that has so far eluded them.
“I am going to work until the last moment to convince the people to come here to join us to see the Champions League games,” Guardiola added.
“Our fans have to know we need them in the Champions League. We cannot make something good in the Champions League in the coming years without them.
“Our players deserve the stadium completely full and hopefully against Barcelona and Celtic it is going to happen.”
Barcelona and Celtic make up the rest of the group, and Guardiola’s men have their work cut out to beat his former club after they thrashed the Hoops 7-0 in their opening game.
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