Zaba ready for an emotional farewell

PEP Guardiola has called on fans to roar Manchester City into the Champions League and give Pablo Zabaleta a fitting send-off.

City take on West Brom in their final home game of the season tonight looking for three points to tighten their grip on a top-four position in the Premier League.

Their place in Europe's top club competition could even be confirmed if Arsenal drop points in their clash against Sunderland.

If selected, the visit of the Baggies will also mark long-serving full-back Zabaleta's final appearance at the Etihad Stadium. The Argentinian, who joined City in 2008, announced at the weekend he will move on in the summer.

City boss Guardiola said: "Nine years here - to replace that you need a guy that stays nine years here. For that you need time and it is not easy.

"His impact here was amazing. He was one of the first players to come here. What he and other guys did for the club, helped (make) this club what it is right now. That is why he deserves the best last game here at home.

"Hopefully all the fans can come tomorrow to the Etihad Stadium. We play for a lot of important things, so they have to come to support us more than ever and to express the gratitude to one of the most important players in the whole history of Manchester City.

"It will be an important day for many reasons. One of them, of course, for Pablo."

West Brom have enjoyed a strong campaign but form has deserted them in recent weeks. Pulis' men remain eighth in the table but they have won just one of their last 10 games.

Meanwhile, Guardiola claims his first season at City would have ended in the sack at former clubs Barcelona and Bayern Munich. The City boss accepts he has fallen below expectations since arriving last summer.

City failed to mount a sustained Premier League title challenge and saw their campaign in the Champions League ended at the last-16 stage.

Guardiola said: "(The) pressure I had when I arrived in Barcelona, when I had nothing to defend (myself with) - at that club, if in six months you don't win, you are really out. Like Barcelona or Bayern Munich, there you have to win by far. If not, they don't give you a second chance.

"Here they gave me a second chance. In my situation at a big club - I'm sacked, I'm out. Sure. At the clubs I worked at before, I am not here, but here we have a second chance."