manuel pellegrini accepts his side are now facing a fight to stay in the champions league places .
the fading champions could even find themselves in fourth place before they next play - at crystal palace on monday - if results go against them over the weekend .
manuel pellegrini -lrb- centre -rrb- shakes hands with david silva during manchester city training .
martin demichelis -lrb- left -rrb- , wilfried bony -lrb- centre -rrb- and fernando during friday 's session .