Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini warns his stuttering squad not to use his axing as an excuse
Pep Guardiola will replace Pellegrini in the summer but the outgoing boss says that's no excuse for the team's failings
Manuel Pellegrini has warned Manchester City not to use his exit as an excuse to let their season slip away.
City have won just two of seven league games since it was announced Pellegrini would be replaced by Pep Guardiola in the summer.
They have also failed to score in four of their last five games in all competitions.
Pellegrini’s men travel to Bournemouth and he said: “It’s important for the mentality of the players to always try to be a winner, as many titles and games as you can.
“I don’t think anybody is thinking about what will happen next season.
“Every player must think about this moment and try to finish with a successful season.”
City were second, three points off top spot when the Guardiola story broke in February.
But they are now 15 points behind leaders Leicester and in real danger of falling outside the top four.
Pellegrini added: “It’s not just Manchester United and West Ham chasing behind us.
“When you have 24 or 27 points to play for, a lot can happen.”
In truth, it is the League Cup win and their first Champions League quarter-final that has rescued this season for City.
But they will travel to face Paris Saint-Germain for Wednesday’s first leg without knee injury victim Yaya Toure.