Guardiola promises help and support for protesting fans as they experss disappointment with the club’s new ticket policy.
Guardiola promises to help Manchester City fans angry with ticket policy.
As they were ready to stage a protest before Friday’s game against Wolves at home, four fan groups sent an open letter to the manager this week requesting that he discuss the issue with Ferran Soriano, the chief executive.
At recent games, City supporters have protested over matchday costs, season tickets, and the usage of resale websites. The four organizations—1894, MCFC Fans Foodbank Support, Trade Union Blues, and Solid Citizens—ask Guardiola to keep fans from being priced out in order to preserve the Etihad Stadium’s atmosphere. The cost of season tickets for the upcoming season has been frozen by the club, but there are worries that not enough new ones will be offered.
“If I can help, I will help, definitely,” Guardiola said. “I’m part of this club, from the bottom to the top. But I’m the manager, I do what I have to do to try to make the team play as best as possible. That’s all I can do.”
“They can express what they feel. It’s a group for fans to go all together and they have some issues that they want expressed. The club is here, always has been, always will be open to listen to what they think.”
Guardiola stated that in order to qualify for the Champions League, the squad “need” the support of the supporters on Friday. City’s victory vs Wolves would put them in third place. Guardiola is being cautious with the striker, but Erling Haaland may rejoin the team after resuming training following an ankle injury.
“He’s getting better,” Guardiola said. “The injury was for six weeks and now he’s between weeks four and five. The injury is not easy. Syndesmosis is a tricky, tricky injury but he’s doing partial training. On Wednesday he was almost fully training … Hopefully in the next games he can be there.”