• Pep Guardiola urges fans to treat the match against Aston Villa as a "final."
• Manchester City sits fourth in standings with 58 points, targeting Champions League qualification.
• The match is critical with City vying against Aston Villa, who recently eliminated PSG.

With Manchester City chasing Champions League qualification, manager Pep Guardiola has labeled the upcoming match against Aston Villa as a "final," emphasizing the need for strong fan support at the Etihad Stadium. City, who recently secured a 2-0 victory against Everton, currently holds fourth place in the Premier League standings, trailing just one point ahead of seventh-placed Villa, who are in contention for European football, according to Channel News Asia.

"It's a final and we need our people, because I think our people want the Champions League next season again," Guardiola stated, highlighting the importance of fan engagement from the very first minute onwards. He acknowledged that the team's performance has been inconsistent at times but insists that the support from the stands is vital for their success in this crucial encounter, as reported by Channel News Asia.

Reflecting on their previous encounter in December, where Villa triumphed 2-1, Guardiola cautioned that the upcoming match will be anything but straightforward. He admired Villa's impressive showing in their recent Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain, highlighting their capability to switch tactics effectively during a match, according to Channel News Asia.

Guardiola also spoke highly of young midfielder Nico O'Reilly, praising his recent performances even while adapting to playing out of position at left-back. He encouraged O'Reilly to enhance his physical abilities and technical skills to cope with the demands of the Premier League, emphasizing that young players need to exhibit consistency and resilience when competing at a high level, as detailed by Channel News Asia.

In the context of the intense race for Champions League qualification, Guardiola understands the stakes are high, and the outcome of the match against Villa might be decisive for their aspirations this season. "We need them desperately to support us, to make noise and be there all the time because it's absolutely a final for us," Guardiola concluded, reiterating the importance of the clash for Manchester City, according to Channel News Asia.