Pep Guardiola fears football may be thrown back behind closed doors if rules aren't followed

Pep Guardiola fears an unwanted returned to empty stadiums if the general public don't follow rules on vaccinations and mask-wearing.

Guardiola is adamant he wouldn't like to play games without crowds again but admits he is bemused by the number of people he sees without masks compared to his native Spain.

He thinks it represents a risk to the way football will look in 2022 because cases might continue to rise unless the population alters their habits.

'I would not love closed doors again. You cannot imagine how different it is playing without people. There is no comparison,' he said.

'In the end we did it to survive the pandemic, for the broadcasters. Thanks to that we could play football and get our salaries but hopefully it doesn't have to happen like that again.

'Cases are rising all around the world, not only in the UK, and in the football bubbles. People in stadiums can contaminate and then, in the stadiums, people don't use masks.

'It's what I'm surprised about the most, you go to big malls, you go in places to buy presents for the family, no-one wears a mask.

'The scientists said from the beginning the most protection you can have is hand sanitiser and this (mask).

'I think in Spain now it will be compulsory not just inside places but outdoor. On the street you have to wear it.

'We should start again - vaccinated, booster, as part of that, hand sanitiser, social distance and masks. It's the best way we can protect. This way, the restaurants could still be open, football could go on.'

Guardiola urged people to continue getting their booster jabs. 'I want to trust the people who say 'This is safest, take a vaccine.'

'People don't die when they take a vaccine, people can die if they don't take a vaccine. We have to try to do it, otherwise, you know, another barrier (football behind closed doors) may be coming. It will be again and again.'

Guardiola's mother died of Covid aged 82 last year and reportedly walked into a local vaccination centre to get his booster jab last week.