Guardiola refuses to criticise fans protesting against club's ticketing policy

Pep Guardiola has backed the right of Manchester City’s supporters to protest against the club’s ticketing policy ahead of a demonstration on Wednesday.

City fan groups plan to stay away from their seats for the opening nine minutes of the game against Leicester City to signal disenchantment at decisions around general selling practices and pricing.

Viagogo became the ninth external ticketing website used by City after signing a partnership last week, sparking mass criticism.

‘Football clubs belong to the people and if the people don’t agree with something… they can legitimately express concerns with the club,’ Guardiola said. ‘And the club is open, listening to them, arriving in agreement so everybody can be satisfied.

‘Imagine going to the stadium with no fans, it would make no sense. Our job would make no sense, close the door.

‘Of course I have sympathy. They can express freely what they want. The club don’t take it [this issue] for granted.’

As of Tuesday afternoon, there were more than 3,000 tickets available at the Etihad Stadium and no block was completely sold out.

Fans will gather outside the Colin Bell stand an hour before kick off to peacefully protest, while City are set for a meeting with their fan advisory board on Thursday before the Premier League champions release next year’s season ticket prices.

Guardiola – who confirmed that Erling Haaland will miss between five and seven weeks with an ankle injury – also claimed that City need vocal support as they struggle to nail down a top-five spot.

‘All I can say is that I – and we – need them,’ the City boss added. ‘We need the support because we are playing for a lot. But who am I to not agree with the people expressing themselves?

‘We are playing for the Champions League and we need them. The people can think whatever they want but I know how tough Leicester is. We need them desperately to reach the Champions League again.’