Pep Guardiola has urged more Manchester City fans to attend their matches in a thinly veiled dig at absent supporters witnessed in their clash with RB Leipzig.
City overcame RB Leipzig 6-3 in an enthralling nine-goal thriller at the Etihad on Wednesday night to make a flying start to their Champions League campaign.
A crowd of 38,062 watched at the 55,000-capacity Etihad Stadium.
But with Southampton up next for the Premier League match on Saturday, Guardiola admitted he wanted to see more home fans cheering on his side.
He said: ‘The last three games we’ve played here we’ve scored 16 goals. I would like more people to come to the next game on Saturday”.
‘We need the people, please, because we will be tired. I know the team from Ralph (Hasenhuttl) is quite similar, the way they play. They’re so dangerous and it’s a really important game. I invite all our people to come next Saturday at 3 pm to watch.’
The Citizens beat the German side, whose all goals came from Christopher Nkunku, with goals from Nathan Ake, Riyad Mahrez, Jack Grealish, Joao Cancelo and Gabriel Jesus, plus a bizarre Nordi Mukiele own goal.
However, the Spaniard admitted Leipzig’s gung-ho style of play made them difficult opponents.
He added: ‘It’s not normal, nine goals. We knew they never give up. They have a special way to attack and play, they play absolutely all or nothing. Of course, they allow you to run and who is more clinical and better in the final third wins the game.
‘It’s a young team, so aggressive, really strong. So, it’s a fantastic team. The way they play… part of me is a big fan because they give a good message to football that it doesn’t matter what happens, you can play, but of course, the quality of (our) players was better today and that’s why we won.’