Guardiola tells Man City fans to end Champions League feud
Hat-trick from Sergio Aguero sinks Borussia Monchengladbach, but manager puzzled by lack of support in Europe
For Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola the Champions League is the holy grail, but it appears that the club's fans are not so taken with the competition. Only 30,000 Manchester City supporters turned up to see their side beat Borussia Monchengladbach 4-0 in their opening group game that was rescheduled for Tuesday after violent storms caused it to be postponed.
With 20,000 empty seats at the ground and those fans that were there booing the Uefa Champions League anthem, as has become customary, Guardiola appeared unimpressed.
"For a manager accustomed to the vibrancy of the Nou Camp and the Allianz Arena, that was an unacceptable display of apathy. His displeasure was the main theme of his post-match assessment," says Chris Bascombe of the Daily Telegraph.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
City's "antipathy towards Uefa stems from sanctions taken against the club when they breached financial fair play rules... but Guardiola effectively told his supporters to get over it", he adds.
Guardiola also said it was up to his team to make home games unmissable. "Today the stadium is not completely full so the only thing we can do is play good so the people at home say 'Wow next time I will be there'. We have to be so proud to play in this competition," said the Spaniard, who flagged up the forthcoming visit of his old club Barcelona as a reason for fans to get excited.
However, City have some superstars of their own to attract spectators. Sergio Aguero is one of them and he scored a hat-trick to help sink the German visitors.
He was "brutal" says George Caulkin of The Times. "With the ball at his feet and with the scent of goal, there are few players more vicious or less merciful... In this sort of form, he is murderous to play against and impossible to contain and, after the drenching storms of the previous night, he rained goals upon Borussia Monchengladbach."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The history of Donald Trump's election conspiracy theories
The Explainer How the 2024 Republican nominee has consistently stoked baseless fears of a stolen election
By David Faris Published
-
Two ancient cities have been discovered along the Silk Road
Under the radar The discovery changed what was known about the old trade route
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
'People shouldn't have to share the road with impaired drivers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The 'Swiss model' shaking up the Champions League
In The Spotlight Uefa says the new format offers 'greater excitement' but critics say boredom is guaranteed
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The wit and wisdom of Sven-Göran Eriksson
In Depth The first foreign coach to manage England on football, life and death
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
‘Genuine visionary’: is Pep Guardiola the greatest of all time?
feature Spaniard has now won two trebles following Man City’s Champions League triumph
By The Week Staff Published
-
Champions League final: Man City vs. Inter predictions and preview
feature Can Guardiola’s team finally win the Champions League and complete a historic treble?
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated