Pep Guardiola to Manchester City: We love playing under Manuel Pellegrini, says Joe Hart

The 62-year-old Chilean is to be replaced at the Etihad in the summer after it was announced that Pep Guardiola has agreed a three-year contract

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini (Getty Images)

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has said the club’s players “love” playing for outgoing manager Manuel Pellegrini.

The 62-year-old Chilean is to be replaced at the Etihad in the summer after it was announced that Pep Guardiola has agreed a three-year contract equating to an annual salary of €20m (£15.5m) in a deal which not only makes him the highest paid coach in world football but also eclipses every Premier League player’s wages too.

Speaking following the 1-0 away win against Sunderland, courtesy of Sergio Agüero’s neat finish in the 16th minute, Hart said: “It was never going to be a distraction. We're here to win titles, Manuel's here to win titles.

“We back him, we love him as our manager. We appreciate we have a job to do this season. Next season is next season.”

Across his spells in Bavaria and Barcelona, the Catalonian has lost only 19 of his 239 league games as a manager. Pellegrini, however, is still in contention to win a stunning quadruple of trophies before he leaves in June.

The former Real Madrid boss, who has been linked with Chelsea, confirmed he would be leaving at the end of the season during a remarkable press briefing on Monday afternoon.

“I have talked with the club and I will finish my contract on the original date. The club are not doing anything behind me, I knew this one month ago. But I don't think it's good to have rumour or speculation, which I why I have told the players and the press.”