Pellegrini: This season was easier
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini does not think he has fallen victim to a managerial 'second-season syndrome'.
Pellegrini claims he had a tougher time in his first campaign as City boss and has just been let down by some rudimentary mistakes this term.
Pellegrini's side fell away badly in the second half of the season, tamely surrendering their Barclays Premier League crown to Chelsea after being joint-top in January.
The Chilean is due to meet with club officials after the season-closing clash with Southampton to analyse where things went wrong but he insists he has not found the going tougher.
The 61-year-old said: "No, I don't think so. Last season was for me harder than this one because it was my first season here in the Premier League.
"This season, for different reasons, we are not the strong squad we played last year. We made a lot of mistakes - especially against teams who are not in a good position, the teams who are in the relegated positions, we lost nine points against them - and we lost at home in both cups.
"Maybe we will continue being a high-scoring team but we must be a more consistent team that doesn't lose points against teams in the relegated positions."
One area where City have been criticised since winning the title last season is in their recruitment, with none of their main summer signings last year having particularly impressed.
Eliaquim Mangala has been the chief disappointment after his B#42million move from Porto but Fernando and Bacary Sagna have also made limited impact.
But City were also constrained by restrictions imposed on them by European governing body UEFA for breaking Financial Fair Play rules.
Free of the limitations of a B#49million net spending cap they could make a greater impression in the transfer market this summer.
Pellegrini said: "Maybe it is not the most important reason why we failed in this season, because we lost a lot of points against teams that are not stronger than our squad, but against Chelsea or Arsenal or Manchester United if you have restrictions and the other clubs don't have them, of course it is an advantage.
"This year we will all be in the same condition and we will see which is the team that works more to have a strong squad."
Southampton's season will not be a failure if they miss out on European football, according to manager Ronald Koeman.
The Saints have had a wonderful campaign and could top it off with qualification for the Europa League if results go their way on the final weekend in the Barclays Premier League.
If they take more points than Tottenham manage at Everton they will leapfrog the north London side into sixth, while they could also overhaul fifth-placed Liverpool, who visit Stoke.
Koeman's men have spent much of the season entrenched in the Champions League places but a recent blip has seen them slip out of the top six.
But the Dutchman believes a win at the Etihad Stadium will ensure they are playing European football next season.
"It will not be a massive disappointment if we don't qualify, because it will still be a fantastic season that we have had," Koeman said.
"It makes it more special if we reach European football. If we win on Sunday I think that means we will finish fifth or sixth because I don't think both other teams will win with their difficult away games.
"I don't think both Liverpool will win at Stoke and Tottenham at Everton.
"But we beat Manchester United, we had a draw against Chelsea, why can't we win against Manchester City?
"It will be a big achievement because we will have reached what we set out for in the season. The club is still growing, that means European football for the club and fans.
"It will have been a top season for everybody, it is really nice to be part of that challenge for European football."
Southampton travel to the Etihad to face a City side who have finished strongly, winning their last five games and plundering 10 goals over the last two.
City have second place sewn up and have nothing to play for, but Koeman does not think they will be in holiday mode.
"I hope they will but I don't think so, they are professionals," he added.
"They are playing at home, they will like to finish on a good way.
"It's a tough one, they are a strong team, but we believe in ourselves that we can get a good result on Sunday."
Source: PAR
