Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about the club not selling out their allocation of tickets for the Wembley semi-final
Pep Guardiola vowed Manchester City would play their FA Cup semi-final for their fans in the ground and those who couldn’t make it as he backed Blues again over their attendance. Over 5,000 tickets were still on sale a few days before the game, despite members being allowed to purchase four tickets for the game if they wanted to.
The majority of tickets being priced at £90, £120, and £150 has put off some who would otherwise have gone, and the novelty of a trip to Wembley has long worn off for City supporters; this is their seventh consecutive FA Cup semi-final and their 20th cup game at the stadium in the nine years Guardiola has been in charge. Add to that the cost of following City at the Etihad and around Europe and it quickly adds up.
City supporters have protested about tickets at the Etihad at two recent home games, with a specific complaint about the cheapest seats for the Villa game this week being £42 for children and £71 for adults. Guardiola said after that game that he understood why some had chosen not to come, and he has no issue if people feel they cannot make the journey down to Wembley.
“I understand the people,” he said. “All around the world people suffer economically and I understand completely it’s not easy for them.
“We would love it but I understand if they don’t come. We will play for the people who come to Wembley and for the people who would like to come but cannot.
“This is what we have to try to do. I understand completely that they cannot come. I’m pretty sure they would love to come but if they can’t come it’s because they can’t.”
Tens of thousands of City fans boycotted the 2023 Community Shield in protest at the kick-off time, despite it being the first chance to see the team since they won the Treble in Istanbul. The club still filled their allocation, but Guardiola and the players were bewildered at the lack of noise from their end of the ground.
Sunday’s kick-off of 4.30pm has been determined by factors other than practicality, with City fans having the furthest to travel but being asked to head down at the end of the weekend. Asked if it was important for the team to have full support, Guardiola stuck to his message that supporters would come if they were able to but that some simply don’t feel able to.
“They would come. They cannot because the situation is difficult – for travel, for work, maybe they will be back late, the prices, the tickets – people cannot do it,” he said.
“What can I say? I understand completely. I’m pretty sure they would love to go there.
“It happened in the past. If this season it doesn’t happen, it’s ok. We have to do it with them or without them, it’s better with our people but I’m not complaining at all. Completely the opposite.
“I’m on the side of the people who would like to come but cannot come.”
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