Pellegrini not worried about Man City sacking: 'I'm not a coward'

Manuel Pellegrini & Co. will face a high-flying Manchester United side on Sunday.

A defiant Manuel Pellegrini has insisted "I am not a coward" as he vowed not to shrink from the two challenges of the Manchester derby and the battle to retain his job.

The 61-year-old Chilean has come under pressure as Manchester City, who are almost certain to end the season without silverware, have lost five of their last seven games and visit in-form Manchester United on Sunday.

Pellegrini, who is under contract at the Etihad Stadium until 2016, has declared he has his players' backing and did not accept that his stay with City will definitely end within the next 14 months.

"At the end of the season we will talk about it," he said in a news conference.

The former Real Madrid manager accepts the decision is out of his hands but said he is not worried.

"Because I have experience, you know when a squad is behind you when you are working, you know when you work well or work bad," he explained. "But you can't talk about something which is not your decision. But if you ask me why I'm not afraid -- there are two things in my whole career -- I'm not a coward and not afraid."

City have had 70 percent and 74 percent of possession in their last two Premier League away games -- at Burnley and Crystal Palace -- but have lost both as they have struggled to break down packed defences.