Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has stressed the importance of keeping a cool head as his side bid to close out title success tomorrow.

City are within touching distance of a second Premier League crown in three seasons heading into their final game against West Ham at the Etihad Stadium.

With a two-point advantage over Liverpool and a much superior goal difference, Pellegrini’s men realistically need just a draw to complete the job.

With Liverpool simultaneously playing Newcastle, the potential for a nerve-jangling finish does still exist — but any jitters are not being betrayed by the normally ice-cool Pellegrini.

Asked if he suffers from nerves, Pellegrini said: “I know how to control (them) — it is different.

“After so many years, it is very important to control your emotions because when you have to take decisions under emotion normally you do it the wrong way.

“I think it is very important for the manager to be calm, to try to repeat what we did the whole year.”

There did appear some tension at Eastlands on Wednesday as City played out 64 goalless minutes against Aston Villa before eventually powering home 4-0.

The mood was one of celebration come the final whistle and Pellegrini, after continually playing down his side’s position in the title race, now expects his players to finish in style.

“I think so, yes,” said Pellegrini, when asked at his pre-match press conference whether his side had played the best football in the competition this season.

“I expect to win. We are thinking not of winning one point but just winning the match and the best way to do it is to play the way we always do.”

Pellegrini certainly has no interest in playing for a draw.

“Every team must play every game to win,” the Chilean said.

“It doesn’t matter in which conditions they are playing, every team must want to win.”

Pellegrini has a fully-fit squad available with Sergio Aguero back in contention after a groin injury.

Aguero, top scorer with 28 goals in all competitions this season, missed the game against Villa after limping out of the action at Everton last weekend.

Pellegrini said: “The whole squad is fit for Sunday. It is very important, always for a manager, if you have your whole squad and choose from all your players.”

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has congratulated his players for putting the club back “on the world map” in a season he feels they can be proud of — but insists he has not given up on the title yet although he appeared to have done so following his side’s 3-3 draw at Crystal Palace on Monday.

They look set to fall just short ahead of tomorrow’s top-flight finale, which they head into two points behind leaders City in second place.

To secure the trophy, Liverpool, seemingly destined for it a few weeks ago before dropping crucial points, need to beat Newcastle at Anfield and for West Ham to win at City, whose goal difference is vastly superior to their own.

But at the same time, he has emphasised that the Merseysiders can hold their heads high whatever the outcome this weekend — and is confident they will be stronger next term.

“I want to congratulate my players on this season — I think we have had a remarkable season,” Rodgers, under whom Liverpool finished seventh last season, said at his pre-match press conference yesterday.

“The players have put Liverpool on the world map again.

“The performance level has been exceptional over the course of the season.

“Come Sunday we will fight right to the very end.

“If we end up not winning the title, I think to finish second to the richest team in the history of sport really shows the progress we have made.

“I think this is really only the beginning. I’ve had two years here and we have been progressing. This year we have made a step.

“I see and hear that other teams will improve, but I think we will improve dramatically as well next season.”

Rodgers is well aware the general expectation is that City will beat West Ham but he was keen to point out that the London outfit have shown this term that they are capable of springing surprises on their travels.

“It is certainly not over,” he said. “First and foremost, we must concentrate on our job, which is to win our game.

“As for them (City), West Ham have some really talented players. If you can go to Tottenham and win 3-0 (which West Ham did in October), you can certainly go to Manchester City and win.

“They’ve got the likes of (former Liverpool striker) Andy Carroll and they have a good defensive record.

“The expectancy is, without disrespecting anyone, that Man City will win. But it certainly won’t be easy for them, I’m sure.

“West Ham will want to finish on a high, and they know they have the players that can cause problems.”