text: Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has admitted for the first time he could be sacked if he finishes outside the Champions League places this season. Pellegrini’s side face West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday with their top four prospects hanging in the balance. The Premier League champions have lost four of their last five games and Pellegrini said: ‘You are wrong if you think that, at this club, you are out if you don’t win the title. Manchester City midfielders Frank Lampard and  David Silva take part in a training drill on Saturday . City will hope striker Sergio Aguero can add to his tally of 25 goals this season against West Ham . ‘(But) If we miss out (on the Champions League) then maybe it will be different because that would not be the same thing. ‘If that happens, the analysis of the season will be different. Not to play in the Champions League is a disaster.’ The Mail on Sunday can reveal that City have already talked to Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp two years ago, when they were seeking to replace Roberto Mancini. In the end they rejected his flambouyant approach in favour of Pellegrini. With six matches left and the top-four positions still up for grabs, City are keeping their options open. The club are not guaranteeing the manager will survive but it does not appear they have already made up their mind to sack him as they did two seasons ago with Mancini. Their strategy was always to allow Pellegrini to continue until the end of his three-year contract in 2016 and then try and lure Pep Guardiola from Bayern Munich, whose own deal will be coming to an end in Germany. Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini wants a reaction from his players after the derby mauling . Veteran goalkeeper Richard Wright shows off his handling skills to current City No 1 Joe Hart . Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has come under fire following their title race capitulation . However, dismal defeats at Burnley and Crystal Palace have placed serious question marks about Pellegrini's ability to motivate his top players. Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany have endured poor seasons, new signings Eliaquim Mangala and Fernando have been disasters until now and even Sergio Aguero's form has deteriorated after being the stand-out player of the season until Christmas. Pellegrini is adamant he will not quit regardless of the pressure he has been under. 'I have walked away from a club once before, many years ago, but I would not quit here because it is a different case,' he said. Dejected Manchester City players look on as they are dealt yet another blow in their hunt for the league title . The reigning champions have slipped from serious title challengers to fears over not finishing in the top four . Kompany  could have been sent off for a challenge on Daley Blind before being substituted last weekend . 'You don't quit just because it's a bad moment. I think we play the football I want, attractive football. At this moment we are not getting the results that we need, but we are going the right way. 'You cannot guess the future. You must say what you think about what happened and the solution. All the other things are a matter of trust.' Pellegrini also did his best to lend his support for Toure who has fallen short of his own standards this season and is being courted by Mancini at Inter Milan. Defending his player, the City boss said: 'I feel sorry for Yaya. When he went to the Africa Cup of Nations and we lost to Arsenal and Middlesbrough in the FA Cup, he was seen as guilty because he was not here. 'He returned here and now he is a disaster, people say he doesn't have spirit, he isn't fit. He is a very important player for our team and we need him to give his best performance and the best way to recover Yaya is to trust in him. Toure's brother died last summer while he was at the World Cup with Ivory Coast. 'Yaya has had a difficult year and we must support him,' said Pellegrini.
target: Manchester City need to lift the gloom against West Ham on Sunday .
  The Blues aim the bounce back from 4-2 mauling by United in derby .
  City are fourth in the Premier League, four points above Liverpool .