Man City stars under pressure with Pellegrini safe
20:01, 13 April 2015
By Stuart Brennan
The club's hierarchy believe the players are to blame for what has been a disappointing season at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City's under-performing stars will carry the can for the club’s poor season.
But Manuel Pellegrini’s job is safe unless the current slump continues.
City have held no meetings about the manager’s future following Sunday’s derby surrender to United, and there are no discussions scheduled until the usual end of season review – which covers all staff, not just Pellegrini.
That will not change, unless the Blues blow up completely and fall out of the top four Champions League places.
The finger of blame from the club hierarchy is being pointed firmly at highly-paid stars like Yaya Toure, Edin Dzeko and Samir Nasri, who have all failed to hit the required standards.
Those three, and other big names, will be part of a purge in the summer – although the fact that many of the stars are contracted beyond this summer, and on big money, means their departures could be problematic if any dig in their heels.
Pellegrini has been the subject of speculation over his future for weeks, and that has intensified as City have slipped from joint top to fourth since New Year’s Day, as well as crashing out of the FA Cup and Champions League.
But the Blues’ hierarchy of chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chief executive Ferran Soriano and football director Txiki Begiristain have not pressed the panic button.
The futures of Soriano and Begiristain have also been questioned, and they will face stiff questions in the review – expected to take place when Khaldoon visits Manchester near the end of the season.
