Pep Guardiola has said he will do what he can to assist Manchester City fans disgruntled with the club’s ticketing policy. Four supporter groups wrote an open letter to the manager this week, asking him to speak to the chief executive, Ferran Soriano, on the matter, as they prepare to hold a protest before Friday’s match at home to Wolves.
City fans have demonstrated at recent fixtures over season tickets, matchday prices and the use of resale websites to sell tickets. The four groups – 1894, MCFC Fans Foodbank Support, Trade Union Blues and Solid Citizens – want Guardiola’s help to protect the atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium by not pricing out fans. The club have frozen season ticket prices for next season but there are concerns about the lack of new ones being made available.
“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.”
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He said of Friday’s planned protests: “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 said the team “need” the fans’ backing on Friday as they look to secure Champions League qualification. City would move to third by defeating Wolves. Erling Haaland could return to the squad, having resumed training after an ankle injury, but Guardiola is being cautious with the striker.
“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.”
Rodri is also working towards playing again but is yet to be signed off by the doctor as he steps up his recovery from cruciate knee ligament surgery.
It will not be easy against Wolves, who have won their past six Premier League matches under Vítor Pereira. The Portuguese head coach is well known for going to the pub with supporters and is quickly becoming a firm favourite at Molineux. Despite Guardiola’s success at City over the past nine years, he is yet to share a pub drink with fans. “I’m waiting for the offer,” he said. “I like wine, but I would take a beer as well.”
