Manuel Pellegrini exit: Manchester City manager defends record ahead of Pep Guardiola arrival

The Chilean will leave the club following Sunday's crucial match with Swansea

Manuel Pellegrini (Getty)

Manuel Pellegrini has launched a vigorous defence of his record at Manchester City as he prepares to vacate the manager's chair following Sunday's Premier League match at Swansea.

City, who will be managed by Pep Guardiola, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach, next season, need to avoid defeat at the Liberty Stadium to guarantee the fourth qualifying spot for the Champions League ahead of rivals Manchester United.

Pellegrini won the title in 2014 as well as two Capital One Cups, but his swansong at the Etihad Stadium, a disappointing 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the wake of a flat European exit against Real Madrid, saw many disenchanted home supporters leave before the Chilean manager's farewell speech on the pitch later, reflecting a downbeat mood among fans that has grown in recent weeks.

However, Pellegrini, enlisting the statistics from his three years in charge, said: “I always think we can do it better, but the important thing is to compare yourself with all the other teams.

"If we make a summary of the three seasons I was in charge here, we were the team that had more points. We were the team that had better performances as a manager, we were the team that in the three seasons we always scored the most goals.

"The only thing that we couldn't be the best at is our defence, that was Chelsea; they conceded just four fewer goals than our team [111 against 115]. The goal difference is huge between us and all the other teams.

“During the three seasons, the fans always tell me that they enjoy our games. Of course, it's impossible to play all the games well, but I think the amount of goals we scored in the three seasons, I think 50 or 60 more than any other team. So I think that's an entertaining team, and a team that wins titles and one that has progressed in the Champions League."

(Getty ) (Getty)

In fact, City's 255 goals under Pellegrini's guidance are 40 ahead of Liverpool's 215 total, although City's 230 points over three seasons do outweigh the 22 of Arsenal, with other rivals Chelsea (218), Liverpool (205) and Tottenham (203).

How will he want to be remembered? "As a team that always want to play good football, to always try to score, not just trying to get a result and when you score a goal, the game is finished.

“It's about a style, and for me it's important to be the highest-scoring team for three seasons, to be always in the Champions League and to win three titles. I'm happy, but I think you must always think you can do better."