Pep Guardiola is still not feeling the love from Manchester City fans in the Champions League.
Having beaten Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 in their opening game, the Blues are back in European competition at the Etihad for the first time since their heartbreaking quarter-final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last season.
City's coach used his pre-match press conference before that game to appeal to supporters to show him they wanted to make the latter stages, and it remains an issue as his team plan their latest attempt on a trophy that has so far eluded the club.
Guardiola referenced polling that had been done among supporters that showed that they would rather win the Premier League "by far" as he was asked to explain why he did not feel the fans had taken to the competition in the same way as at rival clubs.
“The fans come [if] they prefer to. The only way to seduce them is winning games and playing good. They think 'I’m going to go and have a fun 90 minutes and see the team play good,'" he said.
"Every single day we work for all competitions. I know for the fans it’s the Premier League that’s most exciting. We know that as a club, we’ve done polls, and the people prefer by far to win the Premier League than the Champions League. I know how special it is. But this competition is nice too. They have to live it as a dream. Nine times in a row we’ve been in it and that is top.
“It’s a reality of our club, we have to accept it. We have to seduce them so they realise how it’s important. I think it’s because in the past, a whole generation, they were not there in this competition at our club, Liverpool and United – with their trophies, they are used to it.
"We were at home in the bars, drinking beer watching Liverpool and United. For decades. That’s the culture of the club. We are making steps as a club. I wouldn’t want to arrive once in the final then disappear for five years. That would not be good. I’ve a feeling we are closer but this competition is an in high level, anything can happen."
