Sunday 8 May 2016 21:51, UK
Manuel Pellegrini insisted the battle for the top four is not finished after Manchester City were held to a 2-2 draw by Arsenal on Sunday.
Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne twice put City ahead at the Etihad but they were pegged back by goals from Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez.
City's destiny is now out of their hands, with Manchester United assured of a top-four finish if they win their final two games against West Ham and Bournemouth, but Pellegrini, who was overseeing his last home game in charge, was defiant in defeat.
"It's not finished," Pellegrini told Sky Sports. "When things are not in your own hands you need to depend on other teams, but in football you never know, we will have our heads up and not give up until the last day.
"We need to wait for the Manchester United result, then we will think about our last game which we need to win. When you don't depend on yourself it's more difficult."
City created the majority of the chances against Arsenal and went close to a late winner when Wilfried Bony volleyed against the bar.
"It was not the way we wanted to finish the season at home," said Pellegrini. "We deserved to win this game, we played very well for 90 minutes, but in football you must score the goals.
"We were a bit unlucky with some of the chances but we could not win. We were playing against a very good team, but in the first 45 minutes only one team was in it. We just couldn't keep our advantage."
Pellegrini's three-year spell at City will come to an end next Sunday with a trip to Swansea.
"I wanted a different goodbye of winning the game, playing attacking and attractive football that we have for most of the three years I have been here," Pellegrini added. "The team gave a good answer in the game but if you don't win it's not the same to say goodbye. The three years were wonderful and unforgettable and I hope this club continues improving in the future."
