“They are a contender to qualify for the Champions League,” said City manager Guardiola.

“You see the game they played against my friend Luis Enrique [PSG boss] – wow, I was really, really impressed.

“They can play low block and play away, but when they decide to go, with the weapons they have, the speed they have, the set-pieces, they are incredibly well organised.

“It is a final and we need our people because I think our people want the Champions League next season again and hopefully they can help us from the first minute.

“Sometimes we are sloppy, sometimes we are not playing good, now we need them desperately to support us, to make noise and be there all the time because it’s absolutely a final for us.”

City and Villa could also meet in the FA Cup final in May if they progress through their semi-finals – against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace respectively – at Wembley this weekend.