Manuel Pellegrini wants to save his Manchester City legacy with a Champions League spot

After a painful Champions League exit, Manchester City still have two crucial Premier League matches to play. And they are vital, not only to give the team a spot in the next season of the European Cup, but also to save the coach's legacy.

Manuel Pellegrini spoke in a press conference prior to the Premier League game against Arsenal on Sunday, a match the Citizens are obligated to win in order to keep fighting for a top-three finish and confirm a spot in the next edition of the Champions League. Pellegrini will not be around as Pep Guardiola is taking his place in a few months, but the Chilean is not interested in screwing over the Catalan.

Instead he wants to be remembered as a good City coach that achieved an important goal in his final season.

"Of course I think it’s very important to reach the Champions League. I finish my contract here but of course I’m worried about that because I want to finish the season in the best way.

"After that, it's because I think we deserve to be in the Champions League next year. The whole season we have been in the Champions League spots from the beginning to the end.

"Continuing to the Champions League sem-final, it's not easy to have your mind on both competitions. We did it except in the game against Southampton.

"All the other game we did it. If I was just worried about the Champions League, I would have changed every important player for the Premier League games.

"Except for the last game [the 4-2 defeat at Southampton], because it was so important to try to make the Champions League final.

"But in all the other Premier League games we put out our strongest teams. Of the last five games we lost just one and won four, so that shows I’m absolutely interested that this team continues in the Champions League next year.

"It’s very important for me also so I don’t understand that speculation."

Source: Daily Mirror