Pep Guardiola says City’s fans will have a vital role to play at the Etihad on Wednesday night as the Premier League champions seek a return to winning ways against Nottingham Forest.
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City will step out for our latest league clash striving to arrest what has been a tough run of recent results.
A sequence of six defeats and a draw allied to a series of injuries to key personnel has served to take the shine off what had been a positive first three months to the season.
But addressing the media at Wednesday’s pre-match press conference, the City boss spoke about the crucial part the Etihad faithful can play in helping inspire a quick return to winning ways.
“We need them,” Guardiola said.
“The situation is what it is and we need them - always they have been there.
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“They know what the team has done in the last decade - many good moments we live together.
“They know that we absolutely need the support because all of us, especially the players, are human.
“Of course they are willing to give everything to change the dynamic.”
The boss also spoke about his and the players’ mindset ahead of Wednesday’s clash.
Guardiola stressed how the collective focus was purely trained on trying to overcome the threat of a talented and dangerous Forest side, who have proved one of the surprise packages of the Premier League so far this season.
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“Thinking the next one. [When we] won a lot of games we think of the next one and it’s the same - we try the same to clean the heads,” Pep pointed out.
“Try and make a good selection on how we have to play.
“I can’t think of another way. We don’t feel sorry for ourselves, it is what it is.
“We have to accept it.”