Guardiola Issues Rallying Cry to Fans as Man City Host Arsenal in ‘Final’

Football - FA Cup - Semi Final - Manchester City v Sheffield United - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - April 22, 2023 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledges fans after the match. (Reuters)
Football - FA Cup - Semi Final - Manchester City v Sheffield United - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - April 22, 2023 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledges fans after the match. (Reuters)
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Guardiola Issues Rallying Cry to Fans as Man City Host Arsenal in ‘Final’

Football - FA Cup - Semi Final - Manchester City v Sheffield United - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - April 22, 2023 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledges fans after the match. (Reuters)
Football - FA Cup - Semi Final - Manchester City v Sheffield United - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - April 22, 2023 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledges fans after the match. (Reuters)

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has urged fans to turn up the volume in their top-of-the-table clash with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday as his side look to take control of the Premier League title race.

Arsenal have lost significant ground in recent weeks, with three successive draws leaving them five points clear of City but having played two games more.

"Wednesday is a final against a team that has been the best team in England so far and is five points ahead of us," Guardiola told reporters.

"I know even though they have drawn the last three games, the way they play in big, big parts of the game, it is difficult to stop ... It's a massive, important game for us. We know winning will give us a step to putting it completely in our hands.

"The Premier League is 11 months working, working, working. And we want to take this opportunity. We cannot do it alone. Hopefully all the Etihad will be full three hours before the game."

Guardiola has previously criticized the club's supporters for failing to get behind the team. After a 4-2 comeback victory over Tottenham Hotspur in January, Guardiola said fans had been "silent for 45 minutes".



Al-Nassr Out of Asian Champions League with Semifinal Loss to Kawasaki Frontale

Nassr's Portuguese forward #7 Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the AFC Champions League semi-final match between Saudi's Al-Nassr and Japan's Kawasaki at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on April 30, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Nassr's Portuguese forward #7 Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the AFC Champions League semi-final match between Saudi's Al-Nassr and Japan's Kawasaki at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on April 30, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
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Al-Nassr Out of Asian Champions League with Semifinal Loss to Kawasaki Frontale

Nassr's Portuguese forward #7 Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the AFC Champions League semi-final match between Saudi's Al-Nassr and Japan's Kawasaki at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on April 30, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Nassr's Portuguese forward #7 Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the AFC Champions League semi-final match between Saudi's Al-Nassr and Japan's Kawasaki at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on April 30, 2025. (Photo by AFP)

Cristiano Ronaldo’s wait for a major trophy in Saudi Arabia is set to continue after Al-Nassr lost 3-2 to Kawasaki Frontale in the Asian Champions League semifinals on Wednesday.
The 40-year-old Ronaldo, who signed for the Riyadh club in December 2022, had chances but failed to score against the team from Japan.
Kawasaki will face another Saudi team, Al-Ahli, in Saturday’s final with both teams bidding for a first continental title.
Kawasaki was ahead after just 10 minutes on a spectacular volley from Tatsuya Ito. Former Liverpool star Sadio Mane equalized for Al-Nassr before the half-hour mark.
Soon after, Ronaldo headed against the woodwork but it was Kawasaki which scored next, restoring its lead three minutes before the break through Yuto Ozeki.
Al-Nassr continued to attack but fell further behind after 76 minutes when Akihiro Ienaga scored from close range, The Associated Press reported.
Ayman Yahya cut the margin for Al-Nassr with three minutes remaining but despite Ronaldo and Jhon Duran going close, the Riyadh club couldn't get the equalizer.
In the quarterfinals last weekend, Ronaldo scored in Al-Nassr's comfortable win over Yokohama.
Two-time finalist Al-Ahli reached the final by beating fellow Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal 3-1 on Tuesday.