Pep Guardiola responds to Manchester City fan anger over increased season ticket prices | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has offered his reaction to the Club’s decision to increase season ticket prices, in a move that has angered supporters.

Officials from the Etihad Stadium confirmed earlier this month that the club would be raising their season ticket prices throughout the arena for the 2024/25 season, making it the best part of a decade that annual access has risen for supporters.

Throughout the Etihad Stadium, it is understood that Manchester City have increased season ticket prices by an average of around six per cent, aligning themselves with clubs throughout the Premier League in increasing costs.

The decision was met with fierce retaliation from all major Manchester City supporter groups, with some statements pointing at Pep Guardiola and his consistent calls for support from “our people”, despite his colleagues within the City Football Academy shutting out “our people”.

Now, speaking in his first media address following the international break and the decision to increase costs from Manchester City, Pep Guardiola has offered his take on the club’s decision as well as the reaction from supporters.

“The people will forget at the start of the game, they will support us unconditionally,” Guardiola said. “The team is the team, about that I’m not involved. We will respect absolutely all the opinions and everything, I know it’s a sensitive issue.”

Pep Guardiola continued, “But I know tomorrow they will be with us unconditionally, the club will tell what they have to say but I cannot say more.

When asked whether he understand the frustration from Manchester City supporters over the constant increases in season ticket costs, the Catalan coach responded clearly, “Absolutely, absolutely.”

Manchester City face Arsenal in their next outing in domestic competition, with Mikel Arteta’s side travelling to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon hoping to complete a league double over the reigning champions following a 1-0 win at the Emirates earlier this season.

City will be without Kyle Walker and John Stones for the contest following injuries sustained in both of England’s international friendlies, while Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, and Manuel Akanji are all expected to be available among the initial list of ‘doubts’.

Manchester City face a daunting fixture schedule throughout the course of April too, with an FA Cup semi-final meeting against Chelsea at Wembley Stadium followed up by a UEFA Champions League quarter-final double-header against Real Madrid.