MANCHESTER -- Bacary Sagna believes Manchester City have only themselves to blame if they miss out on qualifying for the Champions League next season.
Sunday's 2-2 draw with Arsenal means that City's hopes of finishing in the top-four of the Premier League are no longer in their own hands.
If rivals Manchester United win their final two games of the season -- away to West Ham United on Tuesday night and at home to Bournemouth -- they are certain to finish above Manuel Pellegrini's side. And Arsenal only need a point from their final game at home to rock-bottom Aston Villa to secure Champions League football for a 15th successive season.
City have been in the top-four since the opening day of the season, after winning their opening five games of the season, and Sagna believes they deserve to qualify for next season's competition.
He told reporters: "It's very disappointing especially after the way we started the season but we are to blame because we have everything in our hands to be the best.
"I believe we can be the best team and if we play like we did [against Arsenal] then we are the best team but we have to play like this all season.
"But that is the past and now we're going to have to keep our heads up and going to have to get three points [in the final game of the season].
"We gave a lot. Of course we're not perfect, of course we could have done better but for me we deserve to be in the Champions League."
A victory over Arsenal would have kept City in charge of their own destiny but they could only manage a point days after being knocked out of the Champions League in the semifinals by Real Madrid.
City have gone further than they ever have before in this season's competition and Sagna admits it would be a huge blow to miss out on building on that achievement, particularly with new coach Pep Guardiola taking over in the summer.
The France defender added: "It's a big project to be part of, a big club to be part of.
"We managed to reach the semifinal, which means we are quite a good team. So it's vital for us to be part of the Champions League."
City's hopes now rest on other results and Sagna believes United will face a tough test at West Ham on Tuesday night.
The fixture will be the last-ever game at Upton Park after 112 years at the venue while Slaven Bilic's need a win to finish in sixth and a potential Europa League place.
"We can still make it happen," said Sagna. "First of all we're going to have to recover. After that we have to work well during the week and make sure we get the three points at Swansea. And after that we're going to see what are the results of United.
"I'm sure [West Ham] are going to be giving the maximum because they will want to qualify for the Europa League.
"West Ham is a quality team especially at home. They managed to beat big teams this season, they managed to do well at home so maybe that can win the game, which would be good for us.
"United are right behind so we're going to have to win at Swansea."