Guardiola: Home fans must behave for City bus
Pep Guardiola said yesterday the best protection for the Manchester City team bus at Anfield tomorrow would be for the Liverpool supporters to behave themselves.
“I think the best way to protect the bus is for the Liverpool fans to be as Liverpool fans supposedly are,” the City manager said ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League match. “The best way is that when the people arrive at the stadium, [they are] going to see a football game and enjoy watching both sides.”
Last season, ahead of the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal tie at Anfield, the City bus was subjected to a barrage of missiles and intimidation as it made its way through the crowd. City fans have suggested that to protect the bus tomorrow they will line up along the route. Guardiola, though, was hopeful that would not be necessary.
“The best way is that we should not need the police. Why should the police need to be there? For what? We arrive there, both sides, to play a Premier League game. Why should our fans have to protect our bus? Are you kidding me? I would like the police to go home at 4.30 with their families, drinking a beer and loving the show. That is what they should do. But that depends on the Liverpool people, not on Manchester City.”
Clearly, a hint of anger still remains with Guardiola about the manner in which City’s coach was subjected to such a greeting last April, though he insisted that he was not upset. “Liverpool should be upset, not myself,” he said. “Liverpool, not me.” And he added that, given what happened last time, nobody should be unaware of the potential for trouble, although he remained uncertain as to whether the appropriate action would be taken. “The police knew it before it happened. Now they know it. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Guardiola was as upset with the 3-0 defeat in April as he was about their arrival. That was one of three games against Jurgen Klopp’s team that City lost last season. Asked if people saying Liverpool had worked out how to beat City were correct, Guardiola said: “Good – congratulations. They are right. So, we won the Premier League.
“They are a top side even if we win, the way they play. Liverpool beat us but they beat a lot of teams, not just Manchester City. Liverpool are one of the two greatest teams in England and that’s why we tried to be close with them in terms of many, many things, and we are closer. They are a top side.”