Manuel Pellegrini backs Garry Monk after Swansea City sack

Manuel Pellegrini has claimed that Swansea City acted prematurely when they sacked manager Garry Monk earlier this week.

Monk lost his job after a run of only one win in 11 Premier League games. The Welsh side are 15th in the table, one point above the drop zone, seven months after achieving their best-ever top-flight finish in 2014-15.

Pellegrini's Manchester City host the managerless Swans tomorrow, and the Chilean believes that Monk should still be in the job.

"I don't think the problem of Swansea was the manager," Pellegrini told reporters. "I am sure he is the same good manager who made a very good season last year.

"But in football you are never surprised by anything because so many things change."

City will return to the top of the table, for a day at least before Arsenal play, if they secure victory at the Etihad tomorrow.