Manuel Pellegrini: Manchester City "deserve" top-four finish

Manuel Pellegrini watches on during the Champions League quarter-final between Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain on April 12, 2016
© Getty Images
Manuel Pellegrini insists that he has "enjoyed" his time at Manchester City and is confident of securing Champions League football before bowing out this weekend.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has insisted that his side "deserve to qualify" for the Champions League due to their hard work this season.

A 2-2 draw with Arsenal last Sunday left the door open for Manchester United to steal a place in the top four, but the Red Devils themselves slipped up at West Ham United.

That leaves the Citizens, two points ahead of their rivals, in prime position to get the job done on the final weekend of the season as they head to Swansea City while United play host to Bournemouth.

Sunday's match at the Liberty Stadium will also mark Pellegrini's last in charge of City and, while he refused to be drawn on how much of an impact Pep Guardiola's arrival will have, the Chilean says that he will leave on a high.

"I have enjoyed it over the last three years. Not just the titles I won," he told reporters. "It is the best league of the world. The fans, the stadiums are full capacity. It is a very competitive league. There are six teams who are very close to each other with the money they spend and potential.

"It is very difficult to win the title here. All the teams are difficult. But I think we deserve to be in the Champions League. We played well against Arsenal and we deserve to qualify, but the Premier League is not easy.

"It is not the moment to talk about [Guardiola]. It is important for it not to affect the team. The media did say the season was finished and the next season was starting. But that was not the only reason. There were a lot of others."

Pellegrini won two League Cup trophies and one Premier League title during his three years at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini celebrates winning the League Cup on February 28, 2016
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester382312368363281
2Arsenal382011765362971
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs381913669353470
4Manchester CityMan City381991071413066
5Southampton381891159411863
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd371891046341263
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham381614865511462
8Liverpool3816121063501360
9Stoke CityStoke38149154155-1451
10Chelsea381214125953650
11Everton381114135955447
12Swansea CitySwansea381211154252-1047
13Watford38129174050-1045
14West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381013153448-1443
15Crystal Palace38119183951-1242
16Bournemouth37119174464-2042
17Sunderland38912174862-1439
RNewcastle UnitedNewcastle38910194465-2137
RNorwich CityNorwich3897223967-2834
RAston Villa3838272776-4917