Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter for the latest tips and offers Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter
Pep Guardiola has laid down the gauntlet to Manchester City 's supporters, demanding that they show they want their team to take a place in the Champions League semi-finals.
Guardiola's side must overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad on Wednesday night in order to reach the last four.
City supporters have an uneasy relationship with the Champions League and boo the competition's pre-match anthem in protest against organisers Uefa.
Tickets for Wednesday night's game are also still available in a restricted sale.
And Guardiola made an impassioned plea to supporters to get behind the team, telling them he was "curious" to experience the atmosphere at the Etihad.
Show all 22 1 /22Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City Hugo Lloris 7 Redeemed all those recent errors with that penalty save from Sergio Aguero early on, diving to his left, turning the course of the tie. Who knows what would have happened without that? Barely had a save to make after that.
AP
Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City Kieran Trippier 6 Closer to World Cup Trippier than we have seen for months. Looked secure in a back four, even up against Raheem Sterling, and helped out going forward too.
REUTERS
Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City Toby Alderweireld 7 Just what Spurs needed at the back, so secure alongside Vertonghen that Spurs could get away with a back four rather than a back five. How Spurs will miss him if he goes this summer.
Action Images via Reuters
Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City Jan Vertonghen 7 Another night when his years of experience were crucial for Spurs. Had plenty of defending to do but he always looked comfortable, never letting Sergio Aguero or then Gabriel Jesus out of his sight.
Action Images via Reuters
Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City Danny Rose 7 Desperately unfortunate to give away that early penalty but was not punished for it. After that he showed his experience at both ends of the pitch, getting the better of old team-mate Kyle Walker.
(Credit too long, see caption)
Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City Harry Winks 8 This was his first start in a month but you would not know it. He slotted in perfectly and his industry and intelligence were integral to how Spurs played, always on the front foot, putting the pressure back on City.
AFP/Getty Images
Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City Moussa Sissoko 8 This is the Sissoko Spurs spent £30million on. Brought power and presence to midfield as well as discipline, giving Spurs a foothold in the game, stopping City’s attempts to play through the middle. One of his best performances for the club.
PA
Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City Christian Eriksen 7 He always produces when it matters: found Son’s run from out wide, setting up the goal, one of the most important assists he has ever recorded for Spurs. No one else in this Spurs team would have played that pass.
EPA
Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City Dele Alli 8 The tempo-setter with his pressing from the front, he threw himself into every physical battle, asking the City defence questions they did not want to have to answer. Faded slightly in the second half but can still be proud of all of his hard work.
AP
Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City Heung Min Son 8 He scored the first goal at this stadium, but this goal might be even more important than that. Was finally rewarded for all his running when he ran onto an Eriksen pass, never gave it up, then beat Ederson with a low finish.
Getty Images
Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City Harry Kane 6 Led from the front, challenging the City defence, never letting them rest, and nearly putting Spurs 1-0 up early on. But he became so involved in the physical battle that when he stretched to tackle Delph, he ended up getting injured himself.
AFP/Getty Images
Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City Ederson 5 Started commandingly saving and claiming crosses well, and passing calmly, but looked far less comfortable after a painful hip injury, and he will be disappointed by letting Heung Min Son’s shot through him at the end.
PA
Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City Kyle Walker 4 Booed on his return to Tottenham and it got to him. Never looked comfortable and he kept making mistakes in possession. Did not threaten going forward either.
Getty Images
Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City Nicolas Otamendi 5 Relishes the physical battle, but he plays so much on the edge that he nearly let Spurs through a few times. Must have thought he had emerged unscathed with a clean sheet until Son’s crucial goal right at the end.
AP
Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City Aymeric Laporte 7 Was needlessly booked in the first half but once he regained his composure he was important to how City wanted to play, moving up the pitch and setting the tempo in possession. Although it did not work out that way at the end.
Getty Images
Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City Fabian Delph 5 Brought back into the fold to fill in at left-back. He never looked comfortable in possession, and all of his defensive efforts were wiped out when he let in Heung Min Son to score the winner at the end.
AFP/Getty Images
Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City Fernandinho 6 City needed his experience here but at times he looked caught up in the occasion, not least when he elbowed Kane in the back of the head, and was lucky it did not get caught on VAR.
AP
Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City Ilkay Gundogan 6 Summed up City’s game: rattled by the physical first half, struggling to make an impression, but came into it more after the break as City tried - but ultimately failed - to take back control. At one point he gave away the ball so badly Guardiola collapsed in agony.
REUTERS
Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City David Silva 6 He is maybe not the player he was. In the frantic first half he failed to control the game in possession as City would hope, effectively knocked off his stride by Spurs’ intensity. Did grow back into the game after the break, during City’s best spell, although it was all in vain.
Action Images via Reuters
Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City Riyad Mahrez 5 Bernardo Silva’s injury meant Mahrez was trusted with his first big game in months. But he did not do enough to convince he should play more often. Never looked in sync with his team-mates and struggled to provide quality when on the ball.
Action Images via Reuters
Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City Raheem Sterling 6 City’s most dangerous attacking player, running with the ball, committing opponents, but he could never quite get his shots away, and he went home frustrated.
Getty Images
Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City Sergio Aguero 5 One of the greatest goalscorers in the game but he missed a huge moment here, telegraphing an early penalty, allowing Hugo Lloris to save. Never looked himself after that and was hooked early on for Gabriel Jesus.
Getty Images
"Do it for the guys," he told City fans. "The last 20 months, [the players] are so proud with what they have done.
"They are human beings, they will have bad moments in the games and at that moment we need our supporters.
"At this stage, without supporters, we cannot go through. I'm expecting. I’m really curious to how our fans are going to react tomorrow. Really curious.”
The atmosphere for the win over title rivals Liverpool in early January was one of the best experienced at the Etihad in years.
Guardiola cited it as an example of what he wants to see from his supporters against Tottenham.
“The Liverpool game would be enough for me, a little bit better. We need it," he said.
"Sorry guys, I'm a failure in this competition but many times I played in the semi-final and quarter-finals, and every time I played away the atmosphere was really incredible.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events "They support their local teams. We need it. Really, we need it.
"I want to see that they want to get to the semi finals. Not the players, the players no doubt after 20 months.
"I want to see my fans, our fans, that they really want the semi-finals. I want to see that tomorrow.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies