Manuel Pellegrini insists his Manchester City side’s season has not been a “disaster” – despite their crumbling Premier League defence and exits from the Champions League and both domestic Cups.
City, who went out of Europe to Barcelona in midweek, trail Premier League leaders Chelsea by six points - and have played a game more than Jose Mourinho’s side.
But manager Pellegrini, who insisted he alone is responsible for defending champions City’s woes this term, claimed their problems had been over-dramatised and said they can still save their season.
Arsenal and Manchester United have also moved to within one and two points of second-placed City respectively, with Liverpool now just four adrift of his faltering side.
As such, City’s top-four status is under serious threat, but Pellegrini refused to accept their season – which also included early FA Cup and League Cup exits – was a write-off.
“We are not a disaster,” said Pellegrini, before Saturday's lunch-time home game against West Brom. “We are not in eighth, ninth or 10th place. Only Chelsea has done better than our team.
“We will try to play our best in the last nine games, try to keep second position and try to pressure Chelsea.”
Pellegrini, whose own future is in doubt with City facing the prospect of ending the season empty-handed, said he still enjoyed his job, despite his side’s current troubles.
“Every day I am enjoying it,” he insisted. “If you can’t enjoy playing Barcelona in the Champions League, fighting for the Premier League title and being with this team in the best league in the world, you must go and see a doctor.”
Pellegrini accepted the buck stops with him with regard to City’s current form, which has seen them win just three of their last 12 games.
The City boss said: “It will always be my responsibility because I choose the starting XI, I choose the squad and I choose the way we like to play.
“I have a very good relationship with the players, they always try to give their best, and we’re not doing as bad as everyone has tried to demonstrate this year.
“We are not in a creative moment and maybe we are not playing well. But I never think that the players don’t want to do it – they always want to do it.
“For me, it’s always very important to have the character and personality to fight to the end, until it is mathematically impossible to win the league.”