Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini confident of keeping his job at the Etihad
Pellegrini believes he retains the support of chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak
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Your support makes all the difference.Manuel Pellegrini remains confident he will not lose his job as manager, despite Manchester City’s poor form in 2015 meaning that they will end the season without a trophy.
City entertain West Ham today having won five of their 13 league matches since the turn of the year, with the challenge now to cling on to a place in the top four to ensure Champions League football next season.
Scrutiny intensified last week when Jurgen Klopp, the widely admired coach of Borussia Dortmund, announced his intention to leave, though City moved to distance themselves with an approach for the 47-year-old.
While Pellegrini concedes that missing out on a top-four finish would be “a disaster”, he believes he has the support of chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak. “The owners haven’t told me what they need but you are wrong if you think that, at this club, if you don’t win the title then you’re out,” said Pellegrini.
“That’s the problem. Maybe you can win a title and still be out, maybe you don’t win the title and can continue. If we don’t finish in the top four then the analysis of the season will be different. But to say ‘win the title or you’re out.’ I don’t think that is the way the owners here think.
“They have a project. They think about young players, the training ground, and it is a mistake to think they are only interested in winning the title.”
Pellegrini reports directly to chief executive Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain but is in regular dialogue with the club’s Middle East-based owners, whom he will meet at the end of the season.
“I am always in contact. I am confident because I know we work and play in the correct way. The owners don’t have to say [they support me]. I know exactly what they think.”
Pellegrini, 61, says he is enjoying the challenge at City in spite of the criticism and would not consider walking away before the end of his contract.
“I walked away once before [from Argentine club River Plate] but I would not quit here because it is a different case. You don’t quit just because it’s a bad moment. You must continue for as long as you feel you are thinking the same way as the owners.”
Manchester City v West Ham is on Sky Sports 1 today, kick-off 1.30pm
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