The two teams are separated by just a point in the race for Champions League qualification ahead of their match on Tuesday (22.04.25) and the City boss has called for a passionate atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium to help his side's bid to return to Europe's top competition once again.

Guardiola said: "We need our people, hopefully they can help us from 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."

Villa responded to their Champions League exit to PSG with an emphatic win over Newcastle at the weekend and Guardiola is expecting a tough game against Unai Emery's side.

The Spanish manager said: "They're a contender to qualify for the Champions League and you see both games they played against my friend Luis Enrique, against Paris Saint-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."

Youngster Nico O'Reilly has impressed for City at left-back in recent games and Guardiola has challenged the player to be physically tough enough to cope with the demands of playing for the club in all competitions.

He said: "Now we have one game a week. He has to see if he can play every three days, like for example, Bernardo [Silva] has proven, or Kevin [De Bruyne] has proven, or Ruben [Dias] has proven."