MANCHESTER City manager Manuel Pellegrini insists that he is “not concerned” about the possibility of losing his job despite his team’s ongoing struggles.
The reigning Premier League champions have seen their challenge to retain their title fall away with Crystal Palace beating them 2-1 at Selhurst Park on Monday – their seventh defeat in 13 games and a fourth consecutive away loss.
While Pellegrini is by no means seen as a permanent figure by higher-ups at the Etihad Stadium, City could retain the Chilean into the final year of his contract despite his malaise in 2015.
“I’m not concerned about my job. That is one thing I am never concerned with,” Pellegrini told reporters.
“I never have fear about it, I do my work, I’m very happy. The team maybe have a difficult season but never worry about me.
“We are not thinking about Chelsea, or about the title. We are just trying to win our games.”
City are now fourth in the Premier League, two and one points behind Arsenal and Manchester United respectively, and face the former in their next game. Chelsea, meanwhile, have the luxury of a nine-point lead and a game in hand over Pellegrini’s men.
“We’re not talking about the title,” Pellegrini said to Sky Sports. “We just want to win our games. It’s a blow – every time you drop points it’s a big blow. At the end of the season, every point that you lose is costly.
“The next seven games are very important. Normally the champions’ place is just one or two above the next team so we must continue to win as many points as we can. There are 21 to play for.
“We are only thinking about what we can do and that is to try and win our games and at the end of the season we will see where we are in the table.”