Manchester City vs Swansea City - Pellegrini: Garry Monk wasn't the problem at Swansea

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini believes Swansea may have acted prematurely in dismissing Garry Monk as manager.

The Swans announced the sacking of Monk on Wednesday after a run of just one win in 11 Barclays Premier League games.

That sequence has left the Welsh side just a point above the relegation zone but, after Monk guided them to eighth last season, Pellegrini does not think the manager is to blame.

The Chilean, whose side host the managerless Swans on Saturday, said: "I don't think the problem of Swansea was the manager. I am sure he is the same good manager who made a very good season last year.

"But in football you are never surprised by anything because so many things change."

Pellegrini hopes to take advantage of Swansea's disarray after his side were knocked off the top of the table following defeat at Stoke last weekend.

City were held to a frustrating draw by Aston Villa in Remi Garde's first match in charge last month but Pellegrini thinks that situation was different. Whereas Villa had made their appointment, Swansea are only just beginning their search for a new manager and will be under the charge of a caretaker boss in Alan Curtis.

Pellegrini said: "Always when a club change a manager they have a special motivation in the first game, but that is always a different thing, I think they cannot change too much in two or three days."

City's recent form has been patchy, with just three wins from seven games in all competitions. But they will now look to build momentum after Tuesday's uplifting come-from-behind win against Borussia Monchengladbach to win their Champions League group.

City scored three goals in the last 11 minutes to win 4-2 with two goals coming from B£49million forward Raheem Sterling on his 21st birthday.

Sterling will continue to carry some of the team's goalscoring burden in the absence of Sergio Aguero. City's leading striker remains on the sidelines with a heel problem but could be back in training next week.

"We then play on Monday against Arsenal so we hope he will be fit for that game," said Pellegrini, who is also still without captain Vincent Kompany.

Striker Wilfried Bony will also hope to start against the club he left in a B£25million deal in January. The Ivorian's City career is yet to take off after absences for international duty, illness and injuries, and struggles for form.

Pellegrini said: "He didn't do it against Stoke but he did a very good performance against Borussia."

Meanwhile, Swansea caretaker manager Alan Curtis admits Monk's departure was more painful because he had been at the club for so long.

Curtis, who has been involved with Swansea for 40 years in various roles as player and coach, takes charge of team affairs at Manchester City.

"It's been a difficult few days for everyone," Curtis told the official Swansea website.

"We are all used to managers leaving because sadly that has always been part of the game.

"But Garry's departure seemed a lot more personal to everyone because he has been at the club so long, together with Kristian O'Leary.

"We all feel - staff and players - that we have let him down and we want to go a small way to rectifying that on Saturday.

"Some may say it's too late because Garry's already gone, but we also have a massive duty and responsibility to the club and our supporters."

Curtis has promised they will test third-placed City at the Etihad Stadium.

"Yes, we are on a bad run, but we won't be going to the Etihad just to make up the numbers and get the fixture out of the way while we wait for a new manager to come in," Curtis said.

"We need every point we can and we will strive to be competitive and get something out of a difficult game.

"The whole squad is together and they want our fans to see them fighting and scrapping for everything. It's the least they deserve."

Swansea are in the process of drawing up a shortlist of managerial candidates and hope to appoint Monk's successor before their Premier League home game with West Ham on December 20.