Guardiola: Every Premier League game is a final now | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says all of City’s five remaining Premier League games are crucial if we’re to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

We’re locked in a five-way battle for three spots to guarantee participation in the top tier of continental competition next term.

With Liverpool and Arsenal stretching ahead, just two points separate third from seventh in the Premier League.

City v Aston Villa | Match preview

City sit fourth at the moment ahead of Tuesday night’s home clash with fellow challengers Aston Villa.

Speaking in the build-up to that one, Guardiola conceded that this game can be regarded a ‘final’ but also stressed that every game left is equally important.

“Absolutely,” he said when asked if this game could go a long way to deciding the final placings.

“After that, the game against Wolves will be a final again. Every game counts.

“Aston Villa are a contender to qualify for the Champions League. The game against PSG and my friend Luis Enrique, I was really impressed.

WATCH: Pep_Pre_Villa_Embargoed_21_1330

“They can play a low block and with the speed and the set pieces they have it’s a weapon.

“It’s a final and our people can help us to play the Champions League again next season.

“From the minute one, we need them to support us and make noise all the time.”

This match comes just three days after two late goals earned us a hard-fought victory at Everton.

Nico O’Reilly opened the scoring in that one in the 84th minute after yet another stellar showing from left-back.

His recent performances are even more impressive when you consider the 20-year-old is naturally a central midfielder.

Guardiola was full of praise for the Academy graduate, but didn’t elaborate as to what his performances at full-back mean for his long term future in terms of his position.

“The season is long and we have one game a week so he can recover,” he said.

“We need to see if he can play every three days. It’s a reality and I admire a lot that he’s playing a position he’s never played before.

WATCH: CMM ASTON VILLA (H) wide

“He’s learning and has to improve of course but with the ball he’s good and if he played in midfield every cross he would be on the penalty spot.

“He likes to be there. The problems we have with set pieces, he’s helping us.”

Jeremy Doku was a late substitute in our final ever outing at Goodison Park and made an instant impact, stretching an Everton defence that had previously managed to keep us at arm’s length.

Guardiola was keen to point out how Doku had influenced the outcome and explain why the Belgian winger hasn’t started our last three matches.

“I have been so unfair with him in the last games. I remember the games with Spurs away and Brighton, without him they would be impossible,” said the boss.

“The only reason he has not played recently is because we didn’t attack with wingers. We attack with full backs wide and players in the middle.

“His impact was much better than Old Trafford. Old Trafford was not good.

“Today [Saturday] he had the ball and stretched the defence, arrived at the byline. Jeremy in the final third he is unstoppable and today I am really pleased that he played really good.”

City v Aston Villa app coverage

Our official Man City app allows you to follow all of the action from Manchester in one place.

Minute-by-minute text updates will begin in our Matchday Centre two hours before kick-off, while our Matchday Live show will begin at around 18:45 (UK).

Izzy Christiansen and Joleon Lescott will be the guests on the latest Matchday Live show, offering their expert insight before, during and after the action.

During the game you can also listen to live audio commentary from Alistair Mann and Andy Morrison while our text commentary continues.

Make sure to have push notifications turned on as well, so you can be alerted to key moments in the action, including goals, red cards and the team news.

Our short and extended highlights as well as a CITY+ full-match replay can be accessed from midnight.