For a man who is apparently going to lose his job at the end of the season, Manuel Pellegrini is doing more than enough to earn a new contract.
The imposing shadow of Pep Guardiola hangs over the Manchester City manager who has conducted himself with admirable dignity as the apparent countdown to the arrival of the Catalan from Bayern Munich begins.
The midweek victory over Everton means City will play Liverpool in the League Cup final at Wembley on Feb. 28, which puts them on course for the quadruple. The Champions League is probably beyond City (plus Arsenal and Chelsea) as Europe's elite of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG and Juventus are in a mini-league of their own. However, City versus Bayern would be the most intriguing of finals with Pellegrini facing Guardiola as the latter prepares to take over from the Chilean.