Pep Guardiola has insisted on Manchester City supporters to show relentless support in Tuesday's crunch collision with Aston Villa in the midst of continuous fan protests about ticket issues.
City Fan Groups will continue with demonstrations against different issues in the Etihad Stadium, but have chosen to organize them for pre-match instead of repeating the nine-minute boycott during the victory over Leicester City.
The side of Guardiola is fourth after successive victories, but the defeat by Villa would serve as an important blow to their ambitions of the Champions League.
Five teams – Newcastle United, City, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Unai Emery's Villa – are separated by two points in the battle for three places. City fans have recognized that and protest an hour before the kick-off outside the stadium.
For the first time in ten years, City has a frozen season ticket and general admission prices, but has since announced stricter parameters to maintain a seasonal card for future campaigns – something former player Esme Morgan has publicly criticized. MatchDay tickets for the Villa match start at £ 71.
“It's a final and we need our people,” said Guardiola. 'I think our people want the Champions League again next season. Hopefully they can help us from the minute. Don't wait.
'Sometimes we are sloppy, they don't play well [but] Now we need them. We desperately need them, the supporters, to make noise and always be there because it is a final for us. '
Guardiola has supported the right of supporters to express displeasure and claims that he could not hold a passive fan base. City is planned for a meeting with the Fan Advisory Board early next month.
The match against Wolves on 2 May was intended for another in-game protest, fans asked to go to their chair only after the sixth minute, the number of years since new season tickets were made available.
In the meantime, Guardiola was stated that City will not dive on the market this summer for a center half and discussed the partnership of Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol.
“I love Josko, especially with the structure with left,” Guardiola added. 'He is fast, so fast, at the back, I think Ruben and him as people, they are so generous – they talk a lot, especially Ruben, and I think they do a real, really good partnership.
'We will see if we are buying, I don't think we are going to do … We bought two young central defenders in the winter.
“The most important thing is to have a player who can play there and play in the back left, and that is so important to us.”