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Pep Guardiola rallies Manchester City supporters for Champions League showdown

Manchester City supporters have come in for a lot of criticism in recent years for their inabilit...



Pep Guardiola rallies Manchest...
Soccer

Pep Guardiola rallies Manchester City supporters for Champions League showdown

Manchester City supporters have come in for a lot of criticism in recent years for their inability to create an intimidating atmosphere on big European nights.

Tomorrow night's Champions League quarter-final at the Etihad Stadium is on a knife-edge with Tottenham in town carrying a 1-0 lead over from the first leg in London last week.

"They [players] are human beings and there will be bad moments in the game. In those moments we need our supporters," said City boss Pep Guardiola on Tuesday.

The Catalan native really threw the gauntlet down to the City faithful with a warning that their team cannot progress without them.

"At this stage, without supporters you cannot go through. So hopefully, I'm expecting...really curious how our fans are going to react tomorrow. Really curious."

It is the second of three matches against Tottenham in quick succession with the next two, absolutely pivotal in City's attempt to complete a historic quadruple, wit the League Cup already in the bag.

After the Champions League meeting tomorrow the clubs clash four days later in the Premier League as the champions attempt to keep apace with current leaders Liverpool.

Guardiola has a near-fully-fit squad to choose from for tomorrow night's game.

Midfielder Fernandinho is back in training after a short-term absence with injury while top-scorer Sergio Aguero is said to be fine despite his early departure in the weekend win against Crystal Palace.

Guardiola believes that the Argentine sharp-shooter needed more time to find his match sharpness after a recent muscle injury.

Ukraine international Oleksandr Zinchenko is a doubt and missed Tuesdays's training session.

“I think everyone is fit,” Guardiola said. “I don’t think Zinchenko will train today, the other ones came back yesterday and are recovering well.

“[Fernandinho] trained yesterday, low intensity, but he trained.

“Aguero is fit. He needs competition and needs a little time to get best condition.”

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