Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is pleased that his side are hitting form going into the busy festive period.

Pellegrini's men have kept their hopes of progressing in the Champions League alive with a late 3-2 win over Bayern Munich thanks to a hat-trick from Sergio Aguero, with the Argentina international also netting twice in a 4-1 win at Sunderland this week.

"It has been important to recover the trust in the way we play and the way we play every day," Pellegrini is quoted as saying by BT Sport. "The more trust we have, the better for us and I think this is a good moment.

"Maybe before this week we were not in the crisis most people said, but it's still important to arrive at this moment of the season.

"In the Premier League I always say that December is the key month - to be as near the top of the table as we possibly can - and of course we have to try and play a new stage in the Champions League."

City will have a chance to gain some ground on league leaders Chelsea when they entertain Everton this afternoon, after Jose Mourinho's side were beaten away at Newcastle United.