Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has tipped under-fire Jose Mourinho to survive the chop at Chelsea and spark a resurgence for the Premier League champions shortly.
Speculation is rife that the Portuguese will be sacked if the Blues lose to Liverpool on Saturday, with Mourinho's men 11 points behind leaders City and Arsenal after their worst start to a season for 38 years.
The duo's relationship has been anything but warm at times, but the Chilean insists that he hopes to see the 52-year-old challenging him for English football's top prize come May.
"All managers have a moment in their career, in their season, a bad moment," he is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail. "It's normal. So I hope, because he's a very important manager, that he will arrange his team.
"I am sure they will be involved in the title or for the first position. I am sure they will continue to be a very strong team. They are not in their best moment but I am sure they will improve."
Chelsea host the Reds in West London, while City welcome Norwich City to the Etihad later in the afternoon.
Shane Callaghan
