Pellegrini 'very happy at City'
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is confident both he and key midfielder Yaya Toure have futures at the club.
The pair have come in for heavy criticism as City have faltered in the second half of the season and it has been suggested they could depart in a summer clear-out.
Pellegrini accepts performances have not been up to standard but feels reports of exits for either are wide of the mark.
His own position has been the subject of most scrutiny, with the champions’ Barclays Premier League title defence unravelling spectacularly since January.
Jurgen Klopp became the latest manager to be linked with his job when it was announced this week he would be leaving Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season.
But Pellegrini has another year remaining on his contract and is expecting to see it through.
The Chilean said: “Of course, I’m very happy. This is one of the most important clubs in the world. I’m very happy with the fans, the owner, the players.
“I’m unhappy with the results, especially this year, but I’m very happy here.
“I have a contract for three years. I’m not thinking if we are going to extend it (yet). I’m in the second year. The first year was very good, the second year is not so good. We’ll see what happens at the end of the season.”
Toure has not been the dynamic driving force that he was in the title wins of 2012 and 2014. He has been linked with a move away, most notably to Inter Milan, but Pellegrini insists he is going nowhere.
Speaking at a press conference, the 61-year-old said: “Maybe all of you are waiting to criticise him or (for us to) sacrifice him, but Yaya will continue playing here because he is a very important player for me and the squad and for everyone.”
Despite that, Pellegrini admits he has been disappointed with Toure’s form this season, even though he feels it is unfair to single him out for all of City’s ills.
Toure’s performance in last week’s demoralising derby loss at Manchester United has been especially picked up by critics.
Pellegrini said: “I don’t think Yaya is happy with his performance this year, and I am not happy also with his performance. But we must support him and he will return to his normal performance.
“He’s a very important player and he will have my support until the end of the season.”
Supporting him clearly does not mean removing him from the firing line, as some have suggested.
Pellegrini said: “He doesn’t need a break. For a lot of reasons he’s not the same Yaya he was last season but he continues being a very important player for our team.”
