‘My future is very easy’: Manuel Pellegrini certain he will remain Manchester City manager

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has tried to quash speculation over his future by saying he intends to see out his contract at Etihad Stadium.

Manuel Pellegrini has come under increasing pressure as Manchester City lose their grip on their Premier League trophy. Francois Nel / Getty Images

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has tried to quash speculation over his future by saying he intends to see out his contract at the Etihad Stadium.

And the Chilean, who led the club to the Premier League title last season, said he would like to stay beyond his current deal, which ends in summer 2016 as he prepares his side for a trip to struggling Burnley on Saturday.

Pellegrini’s position has become the subject of scrutiny after an indifferent spell which has seen City’s title defence falter. They trail Chelsea by five points, and their Uefa Champions League hopes are in a precarious state with the side 2-1 down to Barcelona ahead of the last-16 second leg at Camp Nou next week.

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Rumours this week have already linked Pellegrini with a move to Italian side Napoli in the summer if he departs City, but the 61 year old said: “My future is very easy. I have contract here until June 2016 and I will finish my contract here, and if I can extend my contract, I will extend my contract.

“When I sign a contract, I always try to finish my contract in the amount of years I sign at the beginning. If I am not happy, then maybe you try to finish your contract before, but here I am very happy. I will continue without any problems until the end of my contract.”

Pellegrini lifted the club after the reign of previous manager Roberto Mancini unravelled in the second part of the 2012/13 campaign.

He restored harmony to the dressing room after a fractious period, and during the past two years stories of disharmony have notably declined.

That changed this week, however, as reports surfaced of an alleged altercation between captain Vincent Kompany and midfielder Fernandinho during the recent loss at Liverpool.

But the incident has been played down by the club, with Fernandinho himself saying it was “just a conversation”.

Pellegrini said: “No, there is not any problem in the dressing room. That happened a lot of days ago.

“It is normal that in one game that there can be a discussion between two players, but it was not important for the team. Inside the dressing room, we don’t have any problems. There was a normal scene, nothing important.”

Both players had missed the subsequent game after Liverpool against Leicester City, leading to speculation of recriminations, but Pellegrini said he left Kompany out to keep him fresh for the remainder of the season and Fernandinho has since said he had a slight calf injury and felt unwell.

Both players are in contention to return at Turf Moor along with playmaker Samir Nasri, another who was left out of the side against Leicester.

City have little room for error in the title race with only 10 games remaining, and Pellegrini is aware they cannot let up against Burnley, who are second bottom, having drawn 2-2 with them at home in December.

“Burnley are a very good team,” he said. “They always play as an offensive team and try to win, so we must work very hard.”

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