Manuel Pellegrini: Manchester City 'deserve' Champions League football next season

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has said his side deserves to be in the Champions League next season, after a 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium left their hopes of qualifying for Europe's premier club tournament next year out of their own hands.

The stalemate with the Gunners leaves City two points ahead of local rivals Manchester United, who have a game in hand. If United beat West Ham United on 10 May they will overtake City into 4th spot with only the final round of fixtures of the season remaining. City's last match of the season is away to Swansea, whilst United are at home to Bournemouth. The top four places in the table secure qualification for next season's Champions League.

"I think that we deserve to be in the Champions League next year because we are a team that have had 37 games in the [Champions League qualifying spots] and we hope that we are not going to lose [that spot] in the last game," Pellegrini said.

The 62-year-old is leaving the club after three years as manager at the end of the season, with Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola taking over at the Eithad. Over his three years in charge Pellegrini has won the Premier League trophy, in his first season, as well as two League Cups.