Wilfried Bony says he should have started for Manchester City against Arsenal

Former Manchester City defender Danny Mills has claimed that Manuel Pellegrini’s position as manager of the club is being undermined by ongoing speculation linking Pep Guardiola to the Etihad.

And Pellegrini, who is set to restore fit-again forward Sergio Aguero to City’s starting 11, believes the new year will see a title race involving as many as seven clubs, with Leicester leading the way.

Speaking to reporters after his side lost 2-1 to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Monday, their fifth league defeat of the season, Pellegrini said that the return of key players was vital if they are to overtake the Gunners and surprise leaders Leicester City in 2016.

Guardiola is sure to be courted by a host of top clubs across Europe after it was announced on Sunday that he will be leaving Bayern at the end of the season, with the German champions already having lined up Carlo Ancelotti as his successor. He hasn’t played for a couple of weeks.

“I think Pep is one of the best coaches in the world so if he doesn’t continue at Bayern maybe a lot of teams can try to have him manage their team”, the Chilean said.

“I think the second goal was very important because it was in the last minute from a mistake of our team”. Everyone on the bench wants to play. You have to play so many games that it is impossible to think just two teams can be involved in the title.

“When I come on I just try to do my best to try to score or to give an assist to the other players to score to help the team to win”.

He also revealed he would talk to Pellegrini about his position amid speculation regarding his own future.

“That’s my feeling today”, he said when asked if he would air his views to his manager.

“I will continue to work hard, prepare very well and then it will depend on the coach who he puts in”.

“Pep Guardiola will work here (in England), I don’t know if it is next season here (at City) or at another club”.

“There are a lot of things we have to consider, and the most important thing is to think game by game and not what can happen in May”. Pellegrini may well rightly say that there are 63 points left to play yet this was an attitude that conveyed less urgency than Arsenal’s, and City paid the price.