After a sensational start to the season, are Man City now in danger of finishing with just the League Cup?

All of a sudden Chelsea’s points on the board looks infinitely preferable to Manchester City’s three games in hand as Manuel Pellegrini surveys the aftermath of the shock FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Wigan. Apparently all talk of the quadruple had been banned at Manchester City’s training ground - no worries on that score anymore.
 And needing a miracle in Barcelona on Wednesday night to overturn a 2-0 first-leg defeat in the last 16 of the Champions League there is probably no need for Pellegrini to outlaw talk of the treble either. Come Thursday morning, City’s focus is likely to be firmly fixed on closing the nine point gap to Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League title race. At least Pellegrini can seek solace form the fact there is likely to be no need to worry about fixture congestion if, as expected, all there will be left to play for is the league title. True, Jose Mourinho’s first trophy in the English game was the League Cup - then Carling now Capital One.

Pellegrini has mirrored that career path so far but, where once pundits were falling over themselves to predict the Chilean would, like Mourinho, win the title in his first season on these shores, they are now left wondering if the horse they should have backed was the little one. On current form, can City fans head into the vital away games against Arsenal and Liverpool brimming with confidence that their multi-million favourites will pick up the necessary six points? There is, of course, the small matter of a Manchester derby to come at Old Trafford prior to those top of the table clashes.
 Even David Moyes must be increasingly hopeful that another open letter to United’s supporters will not be required after that one. City’s results away from the Etihad so far this season would only be good enough for eighth place and with six of their remaining games on the road, should Pellegrini not address that problem then the main priority will be a top four finish rather than the title.
 At least City have already guaranteed European football next season with qualification for the Europa League thanks to their Capital One Cup win over Sunderland - the 3-1 margin of victory somewhat flattering. On the subject of flattering, praise from Barca legend Xavi for Martin Demichelis on MailOnline this week will have left plenty scratching their heads. Perhaps Barca’s midfield metronome was indulging in a spot of mind games – an art which Pellegrini has yet to show he has a firm grasp – hopeful that the error prone Argentine’s name is once again on the City team sheet for the return encounter at the Nou Camp. But even if Pellegrini does indulge in a spot of tinkering, there seems precious little chance City will be in the hat for the quarter-finals of Europe’s elite competition. Indeed, Sportsmail columnist Jamie Carragher thinks the wisest course of action would be to give City’s star names the night off with the cause surely already lost. Little over the week after their Wembley joy there exists the very real possibility that the Capital One Cup will be the sum total of City’s silverware this season.
Lest we forget, Roberto Mancini’s record of the FA Cup and the Premier League in his three-and-a-half years at the helm was not enough to keep him in the job. After yet another huge outlay on the summer, if the only addition to the City trophy cabinet this season is the Capital One Cup, how secure will Pellegrini be feeling when the curtain comes down in May?

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