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Pep Guardiola has no doubt Manchester City\u2019s fans will be there to lift the team if they ever hit a poor run.<\/p>\n
City supporters have seen little but success during Guardiola\u2019s reign as manager, winning five Premier League titles and a glorious treble last season.<\/p>\n
Yet Guardiola recognises that run may one day come to an end and it is then the City manager hopes the fans, so used to being entertained, will be able to inspire them.<\/p>\n
The Spaniard said: \u201cWe want the fans to enjoy and have fun, have one hour and 30 minutes in good moments. That depends on us. When we play good, always they are there.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just sometimes the situation is not going well. In that moment it\u2019s not because the players don\u2019t want it \u2013 because they\u2019ve proved over how many years their consistency \u2013 but it is in that moment we need them.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course we won a lot and, in the future, maybe you have to understand in the mind that this is an exception. It\u2019s not normal to win the treble, it\u2019s not normal to win five Premier Leagues in six years.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to understand that \u2013 OK, continue to enjoy \u2013 but if the bad moments are coming this season and the next one and the next one, you have to be there.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I\u2019m pretty sure they\u2019ll be there because it\u2019s a club that has come from Maine Road and from being in mid-table, not fighting for the titles. They were there all the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was not here but the people talk to me. So if it\u2019s coming back down a little, \u2018Come on, let\u2019s go.\u2019 Do what you have to do to come back there on top of the league and don\u2019t be down for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n
I’m pretty sure they’ll be there because it’s a club that has come from Maine Road and from being in mid-table, not fighting for the titles. They were there all the time<\/p>\n
Guardiola, however, is confident the current crop of players would not allow a slump to occur.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThe players are the most important thing, and I know they know it, otherwise what we have done cannot be possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe players always are there, even losing 0-2, still we run, still we fight.\u201d<\/p>\n
Guardiola\u2019s own powers of motivation are well known, although he has downplayed the significance of his sharp comments after last season\u2019s home clash against Tottenham as he prepares to host the same opponents on Sunday.<\/p>\n
City suffered a dip in form in the early part of 2023 and needed to come from 2-0 down against Spurs to avoid a third successive loss.<\/p>\n
Afterwards, Guardiola labelled his side the \u201cHappy Flowers\u201d team, essentially accusing them of lacking concentration.<\/p>\n
Observers later cited it as a turning point in their treble-winning campaign.<\/p>\n
But Guardiola said: \u201cThat was my feeling in that moment. I had to say something. Because we won we can believe it (worked) but it is not the truth. Because we won (people say), \u2018How brilliant was Pep?\u2019 but we could do it again and it might not work.\u201d<\/p>\n