Manchester City v Chelsea City preview:Stuart Pearce has urged his board of directors to retain their faith in his ability at Manchester City, with the club's manager of exactly two years facing up to the reality that he has two games, against Chelsea tonight and Middlesbrough on Saturday, to save his job.
City's slump in recent weeks has seen them jettisoned from the FA Cup by Blackburn Rovers and hauled to within six points of the relegation zone, a miserable run of four consecutive league defeats leaving them fourth bottom in the Premiership.
Yet, for all the goodwill Pearce retains with the City chairman, John Wardle, and the chief executive, Alistair Mackintosh, there is an acceptance within the hierarchy that his position would come under fierce scrutiny should the side lose to the champions and then at the Riverside at the weekend. "I can't dictate any decisions the board make," said Pearce. "You know as a manager that, if results aren't good, it's going to upset the board of directors. I have to stand strong.
"But maybe people above me have to stand strong, too, and say: 'Hang on a minute, we think this fella is the right man to run this football club'. It would be fair to say that this club has had a rollercoaster scenario in recent years (in terms of the number of managers who have been in place)."
It says much for the sense of deepening gloom at Eastlands that confirmation that Joey Barton, arguably the team's most inspirational player, had been arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage has hardly registered, with the priority remaining survival in the top flight. Barton will be available for City having been bailed pending further inquiries.
Meanwhile, Pearce's counterpart Jose Mourinho has cut off all contact with the British press following continued speculation that the Chelsea manager will leave this summer - most recently by linking him with Real Madrid. "I cannot accept the fact that the press have created untrue headlines," he said in a statement. "Until further notice I will not be available to the press except for TV and radio commitments around our matches. I repeat, I want to be at Chelsea until 2010. That is my desire."
Mourinho must now ensure that his best players remain with him. Michael Essien signed a new five-year contract on Monday but Frank Lampard and John Terry are yet to extend their current deals.
Chelsea continue to be troubled by injuries. Andriy Shevchenko limped out of yesterday's training session with an ankle problem and is unlikely to play, while Essien is out with a knee injury. Salomon Kalou, who scored in his team's 3-3 FA Cup draw against Tottenham on Sunday, will start. The BBC last night confirmed that they will broadcast the replay of that game live on Monday, with an 8.05pm kick-off.
