text: Patrick Vieira has the backing of Manchester City players to replace Manuel Pellegrini should the club sack the under-fire manager. Pellegrini's future at the Etihad Stadium is under scrutiny following a largely disappointing campaign. Vieira would be a candidate to take over from Pellegrini should the City board decide to make a change. Manchester City players have backed Patrick Vieira (left) to replace Manuel Pellegrini as manager of the club - if the latter at the helm of the Etihad Stadium outfit is sacked at the end of the season . Vieira is highly-respected among the City players and his work with the  youth team hasn't gone unnoticed too . Despite winning two trophies last season, Pellegrini will end this campaign without any silverware at City . A thumping 4-2 defeat at bitter rivals Manchester United on April 12 has increased the pressure on Pellegrini . The Etihad outfit failed to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League too after losing to Barcelona . And a collective of senior players would like to see the Frenchman given the reins if Pellegrini goes. The former Arsenal midfielder is highly-respected amongst playing staff at the club. Likewise, his excellent work with City's Elite Development Squad has not gone unnoticed by the squad. And a core group of players in the City first-team believe Vieira should be given the opportunity to step up into the senior fold. City's first-choice managerial option remains Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola; director Txiki Beguirstain's trip to Germany on Tuesday fuelling talk of a final bid to lure the Spaniard to England in time for next season. However, Guardiola has made his intention to stay with Bayern for at least another season crystal clear. City's first-choice managerial option remains current Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola . Guardiola (right) led Bayern to a 7-4 aggregate win over Porto in their Champions League quarter-final tie . Though, Sportsmail understands Guardiola will listen to offers from English clubs to join in time for the start of the 2016/17 season. That means City must wait at least another year before having a realistic chance of poaching Guardiola. And if the current Barclays Premier League champions decide to axe Pellegrini this summer, then Vieira is emerging as a strong contender to replace the South American. The Spaniard (left) is set to remain with the German giants until his contract expires at the end of next season .
target: Manuel Pellegrini won the Premier League and Capital One Cup last season .
  City currently sit fourth in the league table - 12 points behind Chelsea .
  Pellegrini's contract expires at the end of the 2015-16 season .
  City players have been impressed with Vieira's work with the youth team .
  Pep Guardiola is City's first-choice to succeed Pellegrini at the Etihad .