MANUEL PELLEGRINI says Manchester City will deserve to win the Premier League title tomorrow because they have been the most balanced team and played the best football.
And he believes City would have wrapped up the championship by a more emphatic margin if star striker Sergio Aguero had not missed half of their games through injury.
Aguero, who has scored 17 times in only 19 League starts, will be back from a groin strain for the final day clash with West Ham at the Etihad when a point will be enough for City to pip Liverpool for top spot.
City are the top flight's top scorers with 100 goals while boasting the second meanest defence behind Chelsea.
Asked if his team have played the best football and will deserve their second title in three seasons, Pellegrini said: "Yes. It's been a very close race with three important teams playing for the title right to the end but we have been the best team over the course of the season.
"On my first day here I said the plan was to have a creative, attractive style of play and to win titles. It is difficult to achieve but I always had a lot of trust I could do it.
"We chose the right squad we needed for the season. It was very important to have a good squad, more than just a good a team, at the beginning of the season.
"We were without Aguero for half of our games. If you had taken [Luis] Suarez out of Liverpool's team, [Eden] Hazard out of Chelsea's or [Santi] Cazorla out of Arsenal's for the same amount of games, I don't think they would have coped as well as we have.
"At this moment Edin Dzeko is in a very high level of performance while in other moments it was Alvaro Negredo or 'Kun' [Aguero].
"We had a lot of other players injured for spells as well, like Vincent Kompany. But because of the strength of our squad we did well.
"The way we have done it is one of my best achievements. I'm happy with the whole squad. They have all made a contribution."
manuel pellegrini, man city, premier league, liverpool
Pellegrini insists it would not only be dangerous to play for a draw tomorrow but it would not be in keeping with his attacking philosophy.
City have hit 12 past West Ham while conceding only one in three matches this season and Pellegrini wants to finish off in style.
"I expect to win," he added. "Every team must play every game to win. And we are thinking not of taking a point but to win the match. And the best way to do that is to play the way we have been all season.
"We are not complacent. We have good players with lots of experience and they agree with me that we must not change anything and try to win the game.
"One of the most important things we did against Aston Villa in midweek was not worry about not scoring. We were playing well, we were a balanced team, we didn't have any problems. We remained patient.
"That was most important - the personality, the character of the team. They knew we were going to win and continued in the same way until the end.
"It was one of the best performances of the whole season and I hope we can repeat it. If we do, we will be champions."
But West Ham boss Sam Allardyce insists they can be party-poopers because his full-strength squad will be relaxed and refreshed having been given four days off after securing their Premier League future last weekend.
"We have got a fully-fit squad to challenge City this time round," he said. "A team that should actually perform better because there is less pressure on them.
"When you haven't got the demand of needing points to stay in the Premier League you have got a bit more relaxed squad capable of performing to the highest level and trying to get a result.
"City are the team at the top and it is all about getting a result against the odds in this league. That is what makes it so attractive.
"Will City be nervous? Can we take advantage of that? It is obviously going to be very difficult but we are going to give it our best shot.
"So many teams, including ourselves, have done it this year. Hopefully we could be another one of them.
"Their goal record is fantastic and they've got great players. But every player can go and give his best because we know we're safe in the Premier League - so let's go and spoil Manchester City's party."
Both Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan have been on the books at Liverpool and Allardyce has his own personal reason for trying to put one over City tomorrow.
"From a neutral's point of view, I think everybody would like to see Liverpool win it," Allardyce said. "From a personal point of view, I'd like to see Steven Gerrard win it. It's the last thing he hasn't achieved for Liverpool."
(express)
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