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SUNDERLAND. — Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart says that he and his team-mates “love” outgoing manager Manuel Pellegrini and are determined to give him a trophy-laden send-off before Pep Guardiola arrives.

City announced on Monday that Bayern Munich coach Guardiola will take over from Pellegrini at the end of the season, bringing an end to the Chilean’s three-year stay at the Etihad Stadium.

City are in contention for glory in the English Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup and Hart says it would be fitting for Pellegrini (62) to bow out with some silverware in his hands.

“It was never going to be a distraction. We’re here to win titles, Manuel’s here to win titles,” Hart said after Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Sunderland, which kept City three points below league leaders Leicester City.

“We back him. We love him as our manager.” Hart added, on CityTV: “He has been a top manager for us. His man-management has been something that I personally have really enjoyed, so we are going to look to give him the best send-off, what he deserves.

“The fans think the world of him, the players think the world of him. We have got however many games left in the league, we are in all competitions.

“Next season will take care of itself. Right now, we are living in the moment. Manuel Pellegrini is our manager and we are going to try to win as many competitions as we can with him.”

And Pellegrini does not believe that the impending arrival of Guardiola to succeed him will overshadow the club’s four-pronged quest for silverware this season.

Tuesday night’s 2-1 win at Sunderland gave Pellegrini a 65th English Premier League soccer victory in 100 games, a ratio bettered only by former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who won 73 of his first 100 English top-flight matches.

The Chilean’s record eclipses that of Alex Ferguson over his first 100 games in the English top tier and is better than both predecessor Roberto Mancini and Liverpool’s Rafael Benitez.

But it will not prevent him being replaced at the end of the season by Guardiola, and that announcement made Monday dominated his post-match press conference after a win that kept City three points behind Premier League leaders Leicester City, who they host on Saturday.

Pellegrini’s defence under pressure from the press was as impressive as England goalkeeper Joe Hart’s had been in preserving City’s lead at the Stadium of Light.

Refuting the suggestion that Guardiola’s appointment might be a distraction for City, who remain in contention for league, Champions League, League Cup and FA Cup honours, he said: “The announcement was not on my mind — only having a good season ahead of the next game against Leicester.

“I want to do well in all competitions and all I was focused on was getting the three points. We are all thinking about this season rather than the next.

“I think that we are living in a very good season and if we can finish it very strongly, then it will be special.

“It will be difficult with each game as it goes along, but that is what I am focused on. I am not thinking about myself right now. I want to talk about the team and the club, not me.”

A 16th-minute goal from Sergio Aguero and a superb display in City’s goal by Hart proved to be the difference between the two sides. — AFP.