Manuel Pellegrini: Manchester City can’t win trophies every year

After a stellar first year in charge at the Etihad Stadium in which City won the League Cup and the Premier League, Pellegrini will finish this season having not won a single trophy.

The Chilean says that the media expect City to win the league every year, though he claims that shouldn’t be the case because the reigning English champions don’t have the spending power of other teams – pointing out that Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger and Brendan Rodgers out-spent him last summer.

"I appreciate that you think the only team that must win the title is City," he said. "We cannot win trophies every year. It is impossible especially in this year."

City were restricted to a net spend of £49 million last summer as part of their punishment for failing to adhere to strict Financial Fair Play guidelines, while their bitter rivals United were able to invest £152m on players.

"This year Arsenal spend more money, Chelsea spend more money, United spend more money, Liverpool more money and have very strong squads," Pellegrini added. "You have another five teams that are as strong as your team."

Pellegrini now claims that the pressure the media are placing on his side to win the Premier League each year is unfair, and that a top-four finish should not be considered as a total failure.

"When you think the only team that must win the title is our team, I don't agree with that," he said. "Of course I want to win the title, but if for some reason we don't finish second I don't think it is a shame. If we finish in seventh place without Europe I understand. But when we are the whole season 34 games and always second, I don't think that is the same criticism."