Manuel Pellegrini Talks Raheem Sterling, Steven Gerrard's Slip, Barcelona, More

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has insisted there is a shortage of affordable, top quality English players to buy, and that his side would have still won last season's Premier League even if Steven Gerrard's infamous slip against Chelsea didn't happen.

Speaking ahead of his side's trip to face Barcelona in the Champions League round-of-16 second leg, Pellegrini suggested it is easier to find top-class attacking players away from England. He spoke to Pete Jenson of the Daily Mail (reported by Kieran Gill of the same publication):

"

It is important to have English players but can you sign them? Can you get (Raheem) Sterling? Maybe if you go to Liverpool with £100 million you can. If I want an English player in the position of (David) Silva who is there? Maybe (Wayne) Rooney, but who else?

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Pellegrini did praise James Milner during his chat, saying, "It would be very difficult to find a more complete player than Milner." He also believes the former Leeds United youngster has "big balls and a massive heart," singing his praises after some loyal service to the Citizens. 

The Chilean boss acknowledged the infamous Gerrard slip—which saw him gift the ball to former Chelsea striker Demba Ba, who scored the opener for Chelsea—but he noted the goal made little difference in the grand scheme of things:

"The slip from (Steven) Gerrard? They lost that game 2-0, not 1-0," said Pellegrini, per Jenson. "If he had not slipped, does it end in a draw? We'd still have been two points ahead of them. So why was it Liverpool losing the league and not us winning it?"

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City's task in Barcelona is a momentous one after they lost the first leg 2-1 at the Etihad. Joe Hart saved a late Lionel Messi penalty to maintain hopes of an upset, however. Pellegrini's men need to win 2-0 in normal time to progress, or at least be winning 2-1 by the end of 90 minutes to take the game to extra time. Whatever happens, they must score twice inside regulation time.

Pellegrini is determined to keep 11 men on the pitch after Gael Clichy was sent off in the opening tie, per Jenson:

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You can talk about tactics and technique but if you go a man down against Barcelona, you're put in a terrible position. It is not a disgrace to get knocked out by them. Their squad, if it is not the best in the world, it is the second best. No other team can put together Leo Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez but I want to play them with 11 and if they knock us out then let that be because they were better than us.

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The manager rarely speaks in such a revealing fashion. City's European struggles and frustrations in the Premier League—they are now just one point ahead of Arsenal in second—have heaped pressure on the experienced professional.

In fact, Associated Press writer Rob Harris (h/t Yahoo) believes Pellegrini "cannot grumble if the club's hierarchy already has his replacement lined up." Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher told Monday Night Football Pellegrini will face a "big problem" if City are eliminated on Wednesday, suggesting it's make or break time for the former Real Madrid coach.

City are stumbling toward a trophyless season and desperately need a boost on the continental scene to give themselves an injection of confidence on the domestic front. Pellegrini may be running out of opportunities to show he's the right man to take the club forward. The Camp Nou result is likely to be pivotal, and it could even help him afford to spend £100 million on an Englishman in the summer.