PEP WANTS TO FEEL THE LOVE
WE NEED TO SEDUCE FANS BY WINNING, SAYS PEP
PEP Guardiola is still not feeling the love from City fans in the Champions League – but the City boss said he would not ‘kill himself’ should the Blues not win the competition.
Having beaten Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 in their opening game, the Blues are back in European competition at the Etihad tonight against Dinamo Zagreb for the first time since their heartbreaking quarter-final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last season.
City’s coach used his pre-match press conference before that game to appeal to supporters to show him they wanted to progress, and it remains an issue as his team plan their latest attempt on a trophy that has so far eluded the club.
Guardiola referenced polling that had been done among supporters that showed that they would rather win the Premier League ‘by far’ as he was asked to explain why he did not feel the fans had taken to the competition in the same way as at rival clubs.
“The fans come [if] they prefer to. The only way to seduce them is winning games and playing good. They think ‘I’m going to go and have a fun 90 minutes and see the team play good,’” he said.
“Every single day we work for all competitions. I know for the fans it’s the Premier League that’s most exciting. We know that as a club, we’ve done polls, and the people prefer by far to win the Premier League than the Champions League. I know how special it is. But this competition is nice too. They have to live it as a dream.
“Nine times in a row we’ve been in it and that is top.
“It’s a reality of our club, we have to accept it. We have to seduce them so they realise how it’s important. I think it’s because in the past, a whole generation, they were not there in this competition at our club. Liverpool and United – with their trophies – they are used to it. “We were at home in the bars, drinking beer watching Liverpool and United. For decades. That’s the culture of the club. We are making steps as a club. I wouldn’t want to arrive once in the final then disappear for five years. That would not be good. I’ve a feeling we are closer but this competition is a high level, anything can happen.”
Guardiola has, however, said he would not ‘kill himself’ if City do not win the competition.
The Blues boss was questioned about his answer a fortnight ago, when he said that failing to lift the European Cup with City would not change his life.
He said that did not mean he was not hungry for it, just that he had a perspective on football and life.
“I want to win it but if I don’t, it will not change my life, I am not going to kill myself,” he said to
clarify his position. “In my first press conference, it was the same question – ‘You are here to win the Champions League’ and I said I spoke to (chief executive) Ferran (Soriano), (chairman) Khaldoon (Al Mubarak) and they didn’t tell me that.
“It is impossible to arrive and do it without the feeling that we want to do it. We tried the first season, we tried the second season when we were up for four competitions.”
So what would winning it actually mean? “I would be happier, but not in my private life,” he said.
Coming out top in the elite European competition is the next step for City after their domestic dominance.
“Definitely, but sometimes it cannot be possible,” he said. “There will be another one. Sometimes you take a few years and sometimes you take one year.
“Barcelona is my club in my heart and in 1992 they won their first one – and Barcelona was born a long time ago.
“The important games, the decisions, many games, the influence. But I am sorry, I am not going to live the next 10 months thinking if I don’t win the Champions League it would be a disaster, because my life is quite good!”