Pep Guardiola questions Man City fans over how much they will back his team against Tottenham and asks them to recreate atmosphere during 2-1 win over Liverpool: ‘I want to see if our fans really want to get to a semi-final’
- Manchester City are hoping to finish the season having won the Quadruple
- Pep Guardiola’s side are aiming to make it to the Champions League semi-finals
- City host Tottenham in the second leg of their quarter-final on Wednesday night
- Guardiola says he is ‘curious’ to see how much the fans back them at the Etihad
Pep Guardiola is ‘curious’ to what extent Manchester City’s supporters will back his team as they gun for Champions League glory.
The City boss emphasised the need for desire from his players and fans ahead of the crunch quarter-final second leg with Tottenham.
And he called for a raucous atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to galvanise the Premier League champions.
Pep Guardiola says he is ‘curious’ to see how his Manchester City players are supported
City take on Tottenham in the crucial second leg of their Champions League quarter-final
‘If tomorrow night they don’t help us… do it for the guys, they are so proud. We need them in our bad moments, at this stage we cannot go through. I’m really curious to how our fans will be.
‘I want the crowd to be like it was against Liverpool. I want to see if our fans really want to get to a semi-final. I want to see it tomorrow.’
City’s supporters have a rocky relationship with the Champions League and routinely boo the UEFA anthem in the build-up to kick-off.
‘Tomorrow is about desire,’ Guardiola added. ‘(The atmosphere during January’s) Liverpool game would be enough for me… a little bit better.
Guardiola insists Wednesday night is about everyone showing the desire and the will to win
City have faced criticism over empty seats in the past but there will be few on Wednesday
‘I’ve arrived many times in quarter finals and semi finals, every time away the support is incredible and we need it.
‘I want to see that they want to get to the semi finals, not just the players, the fans too. I want to see that.’
Guardiola also warned his stars that the next few days, the doubleheader with Spurs, will define their season – and suggested the Premier League’s scheduling has barely helped their cause.
‘I love this kind of challenge,’ he added. ‘Tottenham had six days’ rest and we had two before the first leg. I don’t understand why the Premier League put that game at 12.30. I don’t understand it.
City are primed for the game after a 3-1 win in the league over Crystal Palace on Sunday
‘When I was in Barcelona, I listened many times to Sir Alex Ferguson, (Arsene) Wenger and (Jose Mourinho) about that. The big clubs never complain, it’s what it is.
‘If we don’t win we’ll be out. Two finals for us, I’ve had that feeling for a while. Every time you arrive in the last stages, at this period last year we were already champions but we have an incredible opponent.
‘Normally with 86 points we would be champions. Both teams deserve to be champions. This week and the weeks at the end of the season, we are going to prepare for next season.’