‘Disaster’ if Manchester City not at Europe top table

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has said it would be a “disaster” to fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Although stressing City’s season should not yet be regarded in those terms, and he is thinking positively, Pellegrini recognises missing out on Europe’s elite competition would be bad for the club.

And City, who only just missed out on a place in this year’s final as they were beaten at Real Madrid in midweek, still have work to do to secure their entry for 2016-17.