Pep: ‘I feel bad for fans’

PEP GUARDIOLA admitted he felt guilty at failing to deliver a victory for Manchester City supporters at the end of a week in which he had waged a war of words with sections of his own fans.

The City boss yesterday insisted that his words had been misunderstood, after a midweek Champions League win over Leipzig in which he was believed to have complained about the low turnout of supporters.

Guardiola launched a fiery defence of his words before being held to a goalless draw by Southampton and claimed he remained mystified by the reaction to the disagreement with supporters’ representative Kevin Parker.

‘I didn’t say anything wrong after Leipzig,’ insisted Guardiola.

‘I said we played an incredibly tough game and it will be an incredibly tough game against Southampton, and I need the support and our fans.

‘I didn’t complain about how many came or didn’t come, I’ve never done this in my life. Of course I’m grateful, even if 100 people, 85 people come. I’m happy.

‘Always, when the game is not good, I feel bad for them. They come to see a game, to see a show, they want to enjoy it.

‘When it happens I’m grateful, and when it doesn’t happen, I’m a little bit guilty because we didn’t play good but I don’t understand this subject, asking me about what I said.

‘I said, “Guys, come, be together for the next game” and that’s the same thing I’m going to say now — “Please come on Tuesday against Wycombe in the Carabao Cup”.

‘I’m still a little bit shocked why people ask me these questions when in five years, no-one has asked me this question. But the fans were awesome, especially in the last minutes when we pushed more.’