PELLEGRINI DENIES FEELING BETRAYED BY PEP AND CITY

MANUEL PELLEGRINI insists he does not feel betrayed by Pep Guardiola.

On the eve of the club’s biggest ever match in Europe, the outgoingManchester City boss says he has no hard feelings towards the man who will take his place at The Etihad this summer.

City host Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final. Europe’s elite tournament could yet provide Pellegrini with his finest moment in football prior to Guardiola - hand-picked on the basis that he is a better bet to lift the Champions League - arriving from Bayern Munich.

All change...Pep Guardiola is coming to Manchester Reuters

Playing it cool...Raheem Sterling is in the mood for dancing at training today News Group Newspapers Ltd

Pellegrini: I will leave Man City this summer

Even though Pellegrini recently suggested the announcement about Guardiola affected City’s push for the Premier League title, the Chilean does not blame Guardiola for what has happened - nor does he bear a grudge against anyone else at City.

He said: “I do not feel betrayed by Guardiola or the club, not at all. I always knew that I had a contract for three years and that the club wanted to hire Guardiola at some point. Those three years have passed and now City will work with Pep.

“I do not hold anything against Pep. He has behaved in the most correct way possible. I do not bear a grudge against him at all.

City players Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero enjoy their pre-Champions League workout News Group Newspapers Ltd

Pellegrini dishes out the orders to his European hopefuls