Pellegrini may avoid City axe
Augusta to get no respect Benteke treble saves Villa
MANUEL PELLEGRINI may survive as Manchester City manager despite the club’s dramatic decline in 2015.
After only six wins in 16 games in all competitions this year, Monday’s defeat at Crystal Palace effectively ended City’s hopes of retaining the Premier League title and intensifi ed speculation about his future.
The 61- year- old Chilean’s fate will be decided by City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak at the end of the season but, according to senior club sources, he is far from “a dead man walking” after guiding the club to a League and Capital One Cup double last season.
Pep Guardiola is set to stay at Bayern Munich and with few other obvious candidates, Pellegrini looks like receiving a surprise stay of execution. RORY McILROY has vowed to give Augusta no respect as he attempts to complete a career Grand Slam at the Masters.
McIlroy, 25, who plays in the Par 3 contest with One Direction’s Niall Horan as his caddie today, will set out on his quest tomorrow intent on laying waste to Augusta National.
He has tamed Major courses in the past but his record at Augusta is modest, with only one top- 10 fi nish. “It’s such an intimidating CHRISTIAN Benteke rescued Aston Villa with a stunning hat- trick in their relegation tussle with QPR last night.
The Belgium striker salvaged a precious point – and kept Villa out of the bottom three.
Instead QPR remain rooted there following a six- goal thriller at Villa Park.
But the draw will do little to ease either side’s fears of beating the drop.
Benteke struck twice in the fi rst half to cancel out Matt Phillips’ early opener.
Clint Hill and Charlie Austin looked to have handed Rangers’ survival bid another shot into the arm.
Yet it was Benteke who had the fi nal say when he completed his treble by curling home an 83rd minute free- kick.