Manuel Pellegrini has admitted he will find it frustrating should Manchester City not win the title, and said his team had been regarded as favourites due to their style of play.

City have endured the worst week of their season after losing to their title rivals Liverpool and drawing with Sunderland.

They are six points behind Liverpool having played one match less. Asked if ending the campaign having won only the League Cup could be viewed as a success, Pellegrini said: “It’s not good to have an evaluation of the year at the moment because we have to play another five games.

"If we win those five games we'll see what happens with the other teams, so we can wait a little longer to have that evaluation about the year. I think that every one of us will be frustrated if we don't win the league, because if we were favourites to win it's because of the way we played the whole year, not because we were leading the table.

'Be frustrated'
"We were only top one or two times but, the way we have played the whole year, of course I think we would be frustrated if we don't win the league."

City host West Brom on Monday night and Pellegrini believes Liverpool playing Norwich City the day before could help his team. "I don't think it is a disadvantage, maybe it is an advantage if Liverpool drop points," he said. "I am absolutely sure that the teams will drop more points also, it can be Liverpool, Chelsea, the same way we drop points the last game."

The Chilean said the Sunderland disappointment had affected his team’s spirits. “Of course, it was a disappointment but I said before that game that playing against a relegated team is not easy. They play the last games of the season 100 per cent every ball.”

Yaya Toure will not be available on Monday due to a muscle problem while the ankle injuries of Jesus Navas and David Silva make each a doubt.

"Yaya is improving but it is a muscle injury so it is difficult for him to be fit so soon," the manager said.
Guardian Service