Pep Guardiola says Man City vs Aston Villa is a "final" for his team (Image: Getty Images)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has called on fans to become the 12th man in their fight for Champions League qualification. The race for the Champions League spots is shaping up to be one of the most thrilling ever, with City battling it out with Newcastle, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest. A mere two points separate these five teams vying for three places.
On Tuesday night, City will face off against Villa in a crucial match, and Guardiola is urging fans to help them secure victory as the season reaches its peak. The Spanish manager has labelled the game a "final" and is calling on supporters to propel the team towards their goal of qualification. Guardiola even believes that City can clinch the Champions League title again next season.
He stated: "We we need our people, because I think our people will win the Champions League next season again. Hopefully they can help us for the minute one. Don't wait, because sometimes we're sloppy, sometimes we're not playing well, but it's now that we need them.
"We need them desperately, to support us, to make noise and be there all the time, because it's a final, absolutely it's a final for us. And after Aston Villa, it will be the game against Wolves and it will be a final again. Then Southampton, because every point, every game, counts."
Guardiola admits he was impressed with Villa's run to the Champions League quarter-finals this season. And he will be guarding against the speed of Villa on the attack, which will include former City player Morgan Rogers.
Pep Guardiola applauds the Man City fans at Everton (Image: Getty Images)
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He added: "Villa is a contender to qualify for the Champions League and you see both games they played against my friend Luis Enrique, against Paris St Germain - wow! I was really, really impressed.
"They can play in a low block or not, but when they decide to go forward, with the weapons they have, with the speed they have, the set-pieces, and the way they organise. It's a final.
"He (Rogers) was in the second team here and trained sometimes with us. We could see something, that he could do it, but the impact he's had at Villa - what a player. We had an exceptional player here, absolutely."
