Football
Jonathan Smith, Manchester City correspondent 8y

Manchester City won't play for draw at Swansea - Manuel Pellegrini

MANCHESTER -- Manuel Pellegrini will play to win his final game in charge of Manchester City despite just needing a point to finish in the top four.

Pellegrini will take charge of his final match as City boss against Swansea on Sunday and a draw will be enough to secure a place in next season's Champions League for his successor, Pep Guardiola.

His side have been in the top-four since the opening day of the season but lost control of their own destiny last weekend when they were held 2-2 by Arsenal. However, rivals Manchester United missed the opportunity to overtake them in midweek when they were beaten 3-2 at West Ham United.

Pellegrini has maintained an attacking approach throughout his three years at the club and insists he will not change now despite not needing a victory at the Liberty Stadium.

He told a news conference: "We've been in the Champions League places all season so I hope we can do it with a win this weekend.

"I want to finish playing the way we did against Arsenal. I was disappointed with the way we played against Real Madrid [in the Champions League semifinal defeat] because that's not our team. That's why we'll finish playing this way and if we win it will be a good finish.

"It's a difficult team when you play away. Swansea have done very well in their last two games. We must be careful and play a very good game to qualify [for the Champions League]."

If City do secure a top-four finish, Pellegrini says it will have been a successful season having also won the Capital One Cup and made the last four in Europe.

He said: "I think it was a successful season for a lot of reasons. We won a trophy and for the first time we reached the semifinals of the Champions League.

"The third thing is that in the three seasons we were always in a Champions League spot.

"The fourth thing because it was always a difficult season, especially after February when we were involved in a lot of competitions. It's a good season."

Captain Vincent Kompany confirmed he was out for several months with a thigh strain earlier this week while David Silva and Pablo Zabaleta will not be fit for the trip to Swansea.

Samir Nasri, who missed the draw with Arsenal through illness, is available while Aleksandar Kolarov faces a fitness test ahead of the game.

Pellegrini said: "We have Silva, Kompany and Zabaleta -- the three of them are injured, and Kolarov we'll see if he's fit.

"Vincent is not here, he is having treatment in another part of England. I just texted him a message and he's OK. He has a lot of trust in his future."

^ Back to Top ^