Pellegrini setting no targets

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes his team may have clicked into gear and wants his team to keep on winning.

City have overcome the sticky spell they hit in October and November which saw them win just one in six at one stage by putting together a run of four successive victories.

The last three games of that sequence, starting with a dramatic last-gasp 3-2 win over Bayern Munich, have come in exhilarating fashion, evoking memories of some of last season’s best performances.

The champions still trail Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea by six points but Pellegrini is not worrying about that just yet.

The Chilean said: “We are not thinking about the six points Chelsea are in front, we are thinking about trying to continue with the performance we did last week to add the most amount of points in the first round (of fixtures).

“We will see on January 1 what is the distance between Chelsea and our team, but the only way is to continue winning.”

City’s last two games have seen them ease through a potentially difficult game at Southampton 3-0 and thrash Sunderland 4-1.

Pellegrini said: “I think it is similar in the way we played last season, not the complete season, but especially from November until the end of the season, when we played in a high level.

“I think we are returning to our normal performance, that is very important.”

Pellegrini is expecting a tough contest with Everton despite the Merseysiders’ recent underwhelming form.

The Toffees, who finished fifth last season, are currently labouring in 11th in the table and there was booing as they were held to a 1-1 home draw by struggling Hull in midweek.

Pellegrini said: “It is difficult for me to say the reasons why they are playing that way.

“I am sure that against our team here they will be a very strong team, so it is very important not to think about the weaknesses they have shown in the last week and think about the potential they have as a team.

“It is a difficult game because normally the teams of Roberto Martinez play very well.”

The game comes four days before City’s decisive Champions League Group E game at Roma, where a positive result could see Pellegrini’s men through to the last 16.

Pellegrini insists that crucial fixture will not affect his thinking this weekend.

He said: “We have to try to continue winning in the Premier League to discount points on the leaders. We are just thinking about Everton, not the Champions League or Roma.”

Pellegrini has hinted that goalkeeper Joe Hart is ready to commit himself to the club and fresh terms could even be finalised within the next day.

Hart, 27, has reportedly been in discussions with the club over a possible new five-year deal since the summer. His present contract, worth a reported £80,000 per week, is due to expire in the summer of 2016.