Nick Wright assesses Manuel Pellegrinis Manchester City legacy as he prepares to make way for Pep Guardiola... Manuel Pellegrinis Etihad Stadium farewell rather summed up the mood at Manchester City as they approach the end of his final season in charge. Boos greeted the 2-2 draw with Arsenal as disgruntled fans headed straight for the exits, and when the manager and his players re-emerged from the dressing room, they were met by swathes of empty seats.It was a sad way for the Chilean to say goodbye after three years at the helm, but the exodus was also an understandable reaction to yet another setback in a season in which City have fallen a long way short of expectations. Manuel Pellegrini waved goodbye to City fans on Sunday after his final game at the Etihad Mercifully for City, their Champions League qualification fate is back in their hands after Manchester Uniteds 3-2 defeat to West Ham at Upton Park. They can guarantee a top-four finish by beating Swansea at the Liberty Stadium on the final day, but even a top-four finish will not mask the sense of deflation about how things have panned out.How did it come to this? The Capital One Cup triumph over Liverpool ensures the season has at least yielded silverware, but City could not have imagined the collapse that would follow the announcement of Pep Guardiolas appointment in February. Pellegrinis men were just three points behind leaders Leicester at the time. The gap now stands at 15. Manuel Pellegrini and Yaya Toure pose with the Premier League trophy after Man Citys 2013/14 title triumph Even the first Champions League semi-final in their history felt like an anti-climax. Here was an opportunity for Pellegrinis men to prove they belong on the grandest stage, but their meek surrender at the Bernabeu showed that, for all the investment, they are still no closer to the European elite.Pellegrini inherited a team that could win things, said Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness on Sunday. Then he spent £200m net, now he is leaving and how much further down the road is this team than when he walked in? Are they better? Have they stagnated? Or are they worse? What do the challengers need? Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd, Man City and Tottenham - what do they need to win the title? They are awkward questions for Pellegrini, who looked well positioned to dominate English football after guiding City to the Premier League title in a stellar 2013/14 campaign. The softly-spoken Chilean succeeded in repairing a squad left fractured by his confrontational predecessor Roberto Mancini, with City pipping Liverpool and Chelsea in a thrilling title race and securing the Capital One Cup with a 3-1 win over Sunderland. Manuel Pellegrini will be replaced by current Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola this summer Delivering the first league and cup double in Citys history was an achievement for which their understated manager probably deserved greater credit. It was done in style, too. Pellegrinis men thrilled supporters with devastating attacking football, and a total of 102 goals scored ranked as the second-highest in Premier League history. In all competitions, they struck a record-breaking 156 goals, and thoughts immediately turned to the future after they wrapped up the season with 2-0 win at home to West Ham. Big teams cannot be satisfied with one title, said Pellegrini in his post-match press conference. This club and players deserve more titles. Manuel Pellegrini guided Man City to a second Capital One Cup win this season City and their ambitious owners wanted dominance, but in the end the achievements of 2013/14 have been overshadowed by disappointment. City were joint-top of the Premier League midway through Pellegrinis second year in charge, but their challenge faded in the second half of the season, and there were cup exits too. They did finish as the Premier Leagues leading scorers for the second year running as they netted 83 goals, but it was the first time since 2009/10 since they had failed to win silverware. A steady decline was in motion, and the sense of underachievement has grown this season. Not since 2008/09 have City lost 10 Premier League games in a single campaign. Man Citys Premier League decline under Pellegrini Season Won Drawn Lost Goals for Goals against Points Position 2013/14 27 5 6 102 37 86 1st 2014/15 24 7 7 83 38 79 2nd 2015/16 19 8 10 70 40 65 4th Pellegrini, of course, is not solely responsible for Citys plight, with player recruitment a constant source of frustration. Last seasons signings of Eliaquim Mangala and Wilfried Bony have not worked out, and this year Nicolas Otamendi and Raheem Sterling have also struggled to live up to their huge price-tags.But while Citys aging squad contains 11 players aged 30 or over, there is still far more quality within its ranks than their league positions suggests. Pellegrini has been unable to get the best out of them, and Citys dismal record of no wins from 10 games against the top-six opponents is a damning indictment of the man making the decisions in the dug-out. Is Laporte the answer? Athletic Bilbaos Aymeric Laporte is a Man City target. Is he the answer to their defensive woes? Pellegrini can, of course, point to the destabilising effect of the Guardiola announcement as a mitigating factor - and it certainly seems as though certain players have taken their eyes of the ball - but he cannot deny that the decline started long before February.So while Pellegrini will be fondly remembered for the moments to savour in his unforgettable first season, he leaves having failed in his task to take City to the next level. The sparse crowd that stayed for his farewell speech told a tale. Guardiola has plenty of work to do to get them to where they want to be. Also See: What do the challengers need? Is Laporte the answer? Who gets into Europe? City-Arsenal talking points Willie Roaf Jersey . Speaking with TSN 1050 following Brendan Shanahans introductory press conference, the Leafs GM also addressed the clubs perceived leadership issues and the type of working relationship that can be expected within Torontos front office. Bobby Hebert Jersey . 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Custom New Orleans Saints Jerseys . -- Detroit shortstop Jose Iglesias says he has stress fractures in both legs and isnt sure when hell be able to play again, leaving the Tigers two weeks to fill his spot for opening day and perhaps a lot longer. BOSTON -- Carlton Fisk cleared the Green Monster to beat the Cincinnati Reds. All Grady Sizemore had to do was hit it. The Red Sox outfielder lined one off the bottom of Fenway Parks left-field Wall to drive in the winning run on Tuesday night and Boston beat Cincinnati 4-3 in 12 innings -- the longest game between the teams since Fisks historic homer in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. "It will never get old to walk off," said Sizemore, who had three hits in the game. "I was just glad I could come through." An All-Star with the Cleveland Indians, Sizemore missed all of the last two seasons while recovering from back surgery. The Red Sox brought him in as an extra outfielder, knowing the low risk would pay off big if he returned to the form that earned him MVP votes from 2005-08. "Ive got to believe that tonight gives him even further feeling like hes contributing here rather than being someone coming back from an injury," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "Nights like tonight go a long way and continue to rebuild Grady." Sizemore singled in a run in the third and had another base hit in the eighth, then came up with nobody out in the 12th after David Ortiz and Mike Napoli had already singled off Logan Ondrusek (0-2). He hit the first pitch to left-centre, and the outfielders didnt even bother picking it up as Ortiz scored easily. Craig Breslow (1-0) pitched one inning of scoreless relief for the victory. Boston beat Cincinnati for the sixth time in seven games since the Reds rebounded from the Fisk homer to win Game 7 of the 75 Series to take the title. The teams also met for interleague series in 2005 and 08. Dusstin Pedroia had three hits, including two doubles, as the Red Sox won for the third time in four games.dddddddddddd Napoli drove in a pair of runs as the Red Sox opened a 3-1 lead only to see Junichi Tazawa give it up in the eighth. "We finally got something going a little late," Reds outfielder Ryan Ludwick said. "Any time you lose a game, you think about missed opportunities." Red Sox starter Felix Doubront allowed one run on five hits, but he walked two batters in the sixth before leaving with one out and a 3-1 lead. Burke Badenhop threw one pitch to Skip Schumaker to get an inning-ending play. It was still 3-1 in the eighth when Joey Votto drew a one-out walk and Brandon Phillips doubled to put runners on second and third. Todd Frazier singled in one run, and Ryan Ludwick tied it 3-all with a sacrifice fly. NOTES: Reds starter Homer Bailey gave up three runs on five hits and five walks, striking out five in six innings. ... The Reds placed RF Jay Bruce on the 15-day disabled list with a torn meniscus in his left knee and selected the contract of OF Roger Bernadina from Triple-A Louisville. Bruce had arthroscopic surgery on Monday and is expected to miss about a month. ... The game marked the 99th anniversary of Babe Ruths first of 714 career homers, on May 6, 1915. The Red Sox LHP also pitched 12 1-3 innings and took the loss in a complete game against the Yankees at the Polo Grounds. ... The Reds announced that their April 28 rainout against the Cubs will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader on July 8. ... Red Sox DH David Ortiz played in his 2,000th career game. 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