Manchester City midfielder Fernando has given his backing to under-fire manager Manuel Pellegrini by insisting that the Chilean still has a "lot to give".

Widespread reports have suggested that the 61-year-old will be sacked by the Premier League champions should he fail to turn City's domestic campaign around.

The North-West outfit are currently six points behind leaders Chelsea with eight games left to play, and they fell out of the League Cup, FA Cup and Champions League before the quarter-final stage.

"Manuel is an excellent manager," the Daily Star quotes Fernando as saying. "He gives us a lot of confidence, is a very calm manager and listens to us a lot which is a good way to work. He is also a very experienced manager - we have a lot to learn from him and he still has a lot to give."

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti and Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone have been reported as possible replacements.