Monday 5 January 2015 10:20, UK
Manuel Pellegrini hopes James Milner will be at the club next season after the midfielder's heroics in the FA Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday.
Milner's double in the 2-1 third-round win at the Etihad Stadium was the perfect way for the England international to celebrate his 29th birthday, but his future at the club is still to be resolved.
Milner's contract expires at the end of the season and, although talks over a new deal have reached an advanced stage, nothing has yet been signed and he has been linked with Liverpool.
City boss Pellegrini said: "(There is) no news. I hope we will find an arrangement.
"But I think that I have said already what I think about James Milner. He is very useful. He always plays with 100 per cent commitment and intensity.
"I am very happy for him and also as it his birthday."
Pellegrini spoke of his relief after his side made heavy weather of beating Wednesday.
City toiled after falling behind to an Atdhe Nuhiu strike in the 14th minute and only roused themselves in the latter stages with Milner switching to a forward role and equalising after 65 minutes.
Pellegrini said: "Yes, I am relieved because we didn't play well.
"We play very badly except the last 20 minutes, when we hit another gear to try to create the space against a team that defended very well.
"When you play against this kind of team, it is difficult when you are 1-0 down."
Sheffield Wednesday boss Stuart Gray was pleased with the Owls' performance and felt just one late lapse cost them.
Gray said: "Last time we were here we got beat 7-0. It was 0-0 at half-time and they went up a gear and put seven past us.
"It was nice to go in at 1-0, I think we thoroughly deserved it. We had a gameplan to hit them on the break, we frustrated them.
"The goal that we got - Stevie May pulled away on the break and pulled it back to Atdhe Nuhiu and it was a great finish.
"In the end they have shown us total respect as they put on Silva and Nasri and (Gael) Clichy. It was just tired minds that caught us out.
"They kept the ball better than us in the last 15 minutes and when you have tired minds, you can make mistakes unfortunately. The winning goal was a mistake by us but I am so proud of my players. They have pushed the champions to the last minute.
"I thought it was going to go to a replay. It just shows in this game that you have to play until the final whistle."
