Manuel Pellegrini believes that Manchester City ’ s season will not have been ‘ a disaster ’ even the Premier League champions fail to overhaul Chelsea in the title race . The City boss is under fire after seeing his team crash out of Europe to Barcelona for the second season in a row on Wednesday night . They must beat West Bromwich Albion at the Etihad this lunchtime ( sat ) to keep the pressure on Jose Mourinho ’ s side , who are six points clear with a game in hand , and stay clear of the chasing pack . Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has insisted that their season has not been a disaster . Pellegrini stands behind Barcelona boss Luis Enrique during their Champions League defeat on Wednesday . Ivan Rakitic ( second left ) scored the only goal of the game past Joe Hart as Barcelona won 1-0 . But Pellegrini said : ‘ Second position in the whole year I don ’ t think is a disaster . We are not in eighth , ninth or 10th . Only Chelsea has done better than our team . ‘ As I said to the players , we are still in this competition . We have nine games left and me must try to play well and do what we must for this team , which is to stay in second positon . 'And – I repeat – never give up , because in football anything can happen , so we will fight to retain the title to the end. ’ Yaya Toure ( left ) has not recovered in time to face West Brom on Saturday after going off against Barcelona . City ’ s players were criticised for their lack of effort in last weekend ’ s defeat at Burnley but Pellegrini insisted that the buck stops with him . He added : ‘ It will be my responsibility because I always choose the starting XI , I choose the squad and I choose the way we like to play. ’ Asked if he still enjoyed the job , he replied : ‘ Of course . Every day I enjoy it . If you can not enjoy playing in the Champions League against Barcelona , fighting for title in the Premier League , being with this team , being in best league in world , you should go and see a doctor . ’
Manuel Pellegrini accepts Manchester City could end season trophyless . Knocked out of Champions League in last-16 by Barcelona . Eight points behind Chelsea in Premier League with nine games left .