Football
Richard Jolly, ESPN.com writer 9y

Manuel Pellegrini defends Manchester City's season, says it isn't a 'disaster'

Manuel Pellegrini has declared that Manchester City's season should not be called a "disaster."

Reigning champions City are six points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea, who have a game in hand, and failed to retain the Capital One Cup, where they were knocked out by Newcastle.

They were beaten at home by Championship side Middlesbrough in the FA Cup and exited the Champions League in the Round of 16 for the second successive season with a defeat to Barcelona.

But Pellegrini believes their disappointments should be put into context and points out that City have not gone into free fall

"[To be in] second position for the whole year: I don't think is a disaster," he said in a news conference. "We are not in eighth, ninth or tenth. Only Chelsea has done better than our team."

The City team have been criticised during a run of four defeats in five games but manager Pellegrini believes he is accountable, rather than them.

"I think that always it will be my responsibility because I always choose the starting XI, I choose the squad and I choose the way we like to play," he added.

The Chilean is adamant his team are still playing for him, saying: "I have a very good relationship with the players, always they try to give their best and I repeat we are not doing as bad as everyone has tried to demonstrate this year. We can do better, especially in both Cups this year -- that was not good for our team -- but I don't think I have anything to complain about."

City will face West Bromwich Albion on Saturday without injured midfielders Yaya Toure and James Milner, who have Achilles and knee problems respectively.

But Pellegrini believes Milner will be fit for England's forthcoming games against Lithuania and Italy.

He said: "Now we have the international break and both will go away with their squads and see if they will play or not. I don't think Yaya will be able to do it, but we will see in the way he improves in the next days.

"With Milner I think he can play, because he played against Barcelona, but I don't think it's good for him to continue playing, because he has the same kick on the same knee and unfortunately all the games he received another kick on the same part, so we will see what will happen. But he can play."

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