A tearful Zabaleta was honoured with a number of tributes after the game, including the presentation of a lifetime City season ticket.
City go into Tuesday's match on the back of two successive wins, beating Crystal Palace 5-0 but following that up with a far less convincing 2-1 victory over Leicester on Saturday. Their team swept to a convincing win to virtually guarantee Champions League qualification.
"I arrived at this club and I tried to do my best". But City insist they will make their final decision after Sunday's final game at Watford, with a place in next season's Champions League not yet absolutely certain.
He's been key to City winning two Premier League titles, two League Cups and an FA Cup - but Zabaleta has proven to be so much more than a brilliant footballer.
"Pablo is a real legend in what he has done in the club", Guardiola told a news conference. "I am very happy and proud to have been part of this football club".
Pep Guardiola has suggested the results of his first season as Manchester City manager would have seen him sacked by either Barcelona or Bayern Munich. When things have gone a little bit dodgy during a game and you're looking around for who is going to get hold of it and put a couple of tackles in - Zabaleta would be flawless for this group of players at the club.
Zabaleta, the long-serving right-back, announced last weekend he would be leaving the club at the end of the season.
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He was appointed by Federation Internationale de Football Association in 2012 to investigate World Cup bidding contests. Fisher formerly served as assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Criminal Division.
United were dumped out of the 2011 FA Cup by City at the semi-final stage where Yaya Toure scored a second half victor and Paul Scholes was sent off.
"This club had not played in Europe for 30 years".
"I have to be honest, I notice we are having problems in the boxes and we didn't solve it so I have to analyse it myself this summer", said Guardiola.
As for Tony Pulis and West Brom, they drop to ninth, still a more than acceptable placing for the Baggies.
Goals from Gabriel Jesus, Kevin de Bruyne and Yaye Toure propelled City two points clear of Jurgen Klopp's Reds, who occupy fourth place in the Premier League.
"Gabriel was wonderful, but the key player up front was Sergio (Aguero)", Guardiola added.
"His presence in big games - even when you're losing - there's always a few players you know are going to put in a good performance, even when you don't always get on the right end of it", Kompany said.
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