Guardiola said: “The Aston Villa match is a final, and after that, the Wolverhampton match is also a final; every point is important at this stage. Aston Villa is a direct competitor for the Champions League spots, and we need to be at our utmost focus.”
He continued: “We need the support of our fans from the first moment; sometimes we do not deliver the expected performance, but their support gives us strength. This is a crucial match, and we must face it together.”
Guardiola praised the development of his former player Morgan Rogers, saying: “Morgan was in the City second team and trained with us sometimes; we could see his potential, and his impact with Aston Villa is significant. What a player! We had an exceptional talent.”
He commented on the situation of Jeremy Doku, stating: “I feel that I have not been fair with Doku this season; he is an amazing player, constantly threatening opponents and difficult to stop in the final third. In matches like Tottenham and Brighton, he was decisive.”
Regarding the defense’s performance this season, he added: “I liked Gvardiol’s performance in the center of defense, especially in building play with his left foot. He is very fast and understands well with Ruben Dias; they form a great partnership.”
On the possibility of strengthening the back line, he confirmed: “I don’t think City needs new defenders; we have enough options, and we signed young players in January.”
About Nico Orelli, he said: “I am very impressed with Orelli’s development, especially in a position he is not used to. He plays confidently as a left-back and can also contribute a lot in the attacking midfield.”
Guardiola concluded his statements by praising the Aston Villa team, saying: “Aston Villa is a very organized team, especially in set pieces and low defense. I was impressed with their level against Paris Saint-Germain; they are a strong opponent.”
