‘Its like friendly games” – Guardiola explains why football without fans is so bad

Pep Guardiola says football matches behind closed doors is is ‘weird’ and feel like more of a friendly match.

The coronavirus pandemic took a huge toll on sports across the globe. Although sports slowly returned to action, it resumed behind closed doors due to concerns regarding the spread of coronavirus.

Guardiola, in conversation with Indian cricket Virat Kohli, was asked if the absence of supporters made it easier for him to communicate with his players. However, the City boss chose to focus on how the change has made him less emotionally invested and feeling flat ahead of what looks to be a long season of more of the same.

“Without people, you know that it is not the same, it is another type of game,” he said.

“It is like a friendly game every time. It is not the same. We have to do it because the show must go on and there is a lot of money involved. People can enjoy it on TV of course but we need the people to come back.

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“Of course, they are going back when everything is more or less well in terms of safety but we need the people. it is not the same, it is a completely different game.

“You feel empty. The bad moments are less bad and the good moments are less good. In sport [normally], in the nice moments your adrenalin is high and top and in the bad moments you are depressed because you lose.

“[This] is what it is, we have to accept it because theatres, restaurants, shopping and everything is completely different and we are not different to other parts.

“But at the same time we miss the fans. Playing behind closed doors is really weird. It’s not the same. For a short time it was okay but starting the season with 11 months playing that way will be tough.”