Pep Guardiola has made a special plea for Manchester City fans to give his players a rapturous welcome to the Etihad Stadium for Sunday’s title crunch. The Blues boss has asked the club to try to make sure that the welcome the fans are plotting for the team bus ahead of the final game, against Aston Villa, is around the main reception so the players will feel the love as they make their way into the stadium.
Guardiola’s message has been passed on to the 1894 Group, who have begun organising “bus welcomes”, usually by fans thronging along Ashton New Road as the team coach makes the short journey from the City Football Academy. But the manager wants a show of unity right outside the stadium, on club premises, rather than near Mary D’s pub.
The 1894 Group of fans, who organise displays and push for other measures to improve the atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium, are planning a big show of support for the squad as they make their way to the ground for a game likely to decide the outcome of the Premier League title race.
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Guardiola made an impassioned plea to City fans after his team had drawn 2-2 at West Ham to leave themselves probably needing a win against Steven Gerrard’s Villa in order to complete their fourth Premier League title win in five seasons - although that depends on Liverpool’s result at Southampton tonight. The game has long been sold out, but Guardiola has urged fans to show their support anyway as the coach arrives at the stadium.
Guardiola said on Sunday: “I encourage all the Blues in Manchester that day to go to the streets, the stadium, because they know we are going to give everything to win that game. They will be so proud, I'm pretty sure. I can assure you something. In one week our stadium will be sold out and we will give them all of our lives over 95 minutes and they will give us their lives.”
That has brought a response from the 1894 Group, who have sent a message to City fans that reads: "It's up to us fans to respond to him. No excuses. Get to the Etihad in numbers. If you're lucky enough to have a ticket get down early. If not, come anyway, soak up the atmosphere and then watch the game in town.
"The plan is to welcome the players to the stadium with a sky blue storm. Bring your scarves, banners, and flags. We will line the road near City@home to the main reception outside the Colin Bell Stand. The bus should arrive between 2:15/2:30 pm.
"We will set the tone from the off. As soon as the players arrive, there will be no doubt how big this occasion is. If there was ever a game to mix up your pre-match routine, it's Sunday. Pep wants our support. Will you respond? Get down, blues. Make a day of it. No excuses."
The 1894 Group was already planning a “bus welcoming” for when the team coach arrives at main reception at around 2.15, ahead of the 4pm kick off, but they included Guardiola’s quote in literature produced to publicise their plans for a show of support. And one of the organisers, Loukas Gregory, revealed that Guardiola had specifically requested that fans should congregate outside the ground to greet the players as they arrive.
He said: “We have planned a few bus welcomes recently and the plan was always going to be to do something at the nearest game to us hopefully winning the title, but Pep’s words at West Ham created the perfect storm.
“He asked the fans to play their part immediately after the West Ham game and the supporters have gone with him, and we are expecting the biggest turnout yet. We did them before the Atletico and Real Madrid games and before Liverpool which were good but were down Grey Mare Lane and outside Mary D’s, but this time we want fans to congregate outside the main reception.
“That is off the back of working with the club - they want it there, and apparently Pep has also said he wants it close to the stadium.”
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