Pep issues rallying cry
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has called for more fans to come and watch his side play against Southampton at the weekend.
City began their Champions League campaign in style on Wednesday night with a convincing 6-3 victory against RB Leipzig.
Despite a hat-trick from Leipzig attacker Christopher Nkunku, City dominated for large parts of the game and secured victory thanks to Nathan Ake, a Nordi Mukiele own goal, Riyad Mahrez, Jack Grealish – his first ever Champions League goal –Â Â Joao Cancelo and lastly Gabriel Jesus.
The fixtures continue to come thick and fast for City, with a Premier League clash against Southampton to look forward to on Saturday afternoon.
Against Leipzig, there was a number of obvious gaps within the Etihad Stadium, with City even offering discounted tickets on Unidays prior to the fixture.
Guardiola has therefore pleaded with their supporters to turn up in numbers against the Saints this weekend, hoping that they can help drive the team on to secure their fifth win on the bounce.
"Kevin's quality with the ball… What can I say?"
"A blind guy can see it!"
Pep Guardiola's 300th game as City manager was a wild one with nine goals!
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 15, 2021
“I would say the last three games we played here we scored 16 goals,” the Manchester City manager told BT Sport. “So I would like to come more people next game on Saturday, we need the people next Saturday. Please.
“We will be tired. I know the team from Ralph [Hasenhuttl, Southampton manager] is quite similar to the way they play. They are so, so dangerous with good quality and it’s a really important game for us.
“So I invite to all our people to come next Saturday, 3pm, to watch the game.”
The Spaniard was understandably proud of the reaction his team showed whenever the German outfit pulled a goal back, but the nine-goal thriller also led Guardiola to heap praise on City’s opponents.
“They never give up. They have a special way to attack. They play all or nothing,” he said.
“Against Leipzig, you never have the feeling that it’s over. I would say it was an incredible compliment for the team.
“We knew it and they respond really well but after 2-1 it immediately went 3-1, after they score 3-2 we make it 4-2, we scored a few minutes after they scored and that helped us a lot.”
Whilst it is unlikely that City will sell-out for Saturday’s Premier League encounter, which, as per Transfermarkt, hasn’t been done at the Etihad since the 2016/17 campaign, Guardiola’s rallying call might just be the push that Blues fans needed.
