Manuel Pellegrini finally admitted the impending arrival of Pep Guardiola this summer has been a distraction for Manchester City.

Pellegrini had previously insisted that City’s announcement on 1 February that Guardiola would replace him as manager this summer did not contribute to their poor form.

“It’s not easy for the players when you read in newspapers all the things that will happen next season, all the players who will go out, all the players that will come in,” he said. “It’s not easy for the players to focus their mind. But this squad has a lot of character. We never give up.”

City are now in the semifinals of the Champions League and have moved into third in the Premier League.