Pellegrini not planning on resting players

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini reveals he will pick a full-strength team against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Citizens have already secured qualification to the first knockout round, but trail Juventus by two points at the top of Group D and Pellgrini stressed the importance of finishing top of the group to secure a favourable draw in the next round.

Even if City beat Gladbach at the Etihad on Tuesday, they will need Sevilla to beat Juventus to stand any chance of finishing in the top spot.

Pellegrini has pledged to play the strongest team available to him on Tuesday to secure the three points they need and hope Sevilla do them a favour.

"We cannot protect the players because we must try to win the game to finish top of the group," said the Chilean.

"If you are asking me what is more important, of course it is the Premier League and to win the title but you need names to make changes and we do not have those names. All those names are injured."

Pellegrini will be without Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany, who are all out injured.

City fell to a shock 2-0 defeat to Stoke on Saturday and the manager is keen for his side to bounce back strongly in midweek.

"We are [near the] top of the table and [still] in all the competitions [but] of course losing like we did against Stoke or against Liverpool is not the way a big team must do it," he added.