MANCHESTER -- Manuel Pellegrini said he is not waiting to see if Manchester City progress in the Champions League before deciding whether to extend Frank Lampard's loan deal and insisted it will have no bearing on the midfielder's future.
Lampard, 36, is on loan from New York City FC, who will play in their inaugural Major League Soccer season in 2015, until January. But manager Pellegrini has hinted he is keen to keep the veteran midfielder for longer after he has impressed during his time in Manchester.
Meanwhile, City face Roma in the Stadio Olimpico on Dec. 10 knowing a victory could take them through to the last-16 of the Champions League. But while Lampard captained Chelsea to victory in the final of the competition in 2012, Pellegrini said that his side's European fortunes will not dictate whether the former England international stays.
Pellegrini said at a news conference: "That is not the reason. I don't think one thing is tied with the other one. The decision with Frank Lampard will be the same if we continue in the Champions League or if we don't continue in the Champions League."
Pellegrini had long insisted the decision about Lampard would be made in December but added: "I said December, but not the first or the second. We have the whole month of December to decide."
Lampard has scored five goals in his brief City career but Pellegrini insisted he has not surpassed expectations.
He said: "He has done the same way in the last 12 years here in England. When he came here I expected that he would be the same player he has been his whole career because he is a top player. At his age, he cannot play three games in a week for 90 minutes but his quality is the same as two or three years ago."
City visit Sunderland on Wednesday after winning their last two league games to close the gap on league leaders Chelsea to six points.
Pellegrini insisted his side are not back in the title race by arguing: "We were never out of the fight for the title."
And the Chilean does not think that just City and Chelsea will be involved in the battle to win the Premier League, saying: "I am convinced two or three more teams will be involved in this title race."