Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini does not fear the sack if his side fail to qualify for the Champions League this season.
A victory over Everton at Eastlands on Wednesday night would lift City back into fourth place, a point ahead of Tottenham, and leave them favourites to secure a place in Europe's elite club competition.
City have a tough run-in with matches against Manchester United and Arsenal in successive weeks as well as home games against Spurs and fellow top-four rivals Aston Villa.
Should they slip up and not finish fourth Mancini fully expects to be at the helm for the following campaign.
"We work for the fourth position but if we didn't get it the work would not be finished," he said.
"Manchester City would continue to play and we would have other years."
Asked if he thought he would be given another chance next season if City did not qualify for the Champions League Mancini replied: "Yes, why not."
In recent months there has been speculation about the Italian's long-term future - he was linked with Juventus at the weekend - and about unhappiness among some of the players regarding his training methods.
Mancini brushed all that aside by stressing the players had it in their power to qualify for the Champions League.
"All the players are happy because now we are winning and we can get fourth spot," added the former Inter Milan coach, who expressed his surprise at being linked with Juve.
"If they want to play in the Champions League Carlos Tevez has to score goals and Emmanuel Adebayor has to score goals and Kolo Toure has to stop goals - I think then we would have a good chance.
"I want to play in the Champions League next season but it depends on us.
"I think if we want to win now and in the future we must work very well every day.
"For the club it is important to get fourth position."
Everton have won four of their last six matches, beating Chelsea and United, and Mancini is wary of the threat they pose.
"This game, for me, could be more difficult than the last games," he said.
"I watched Everton against Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool and they played to 100% and they have strong players."
Mancini discovered on Tuesday he will be without defender Joleon Lescott for the majority of their run-in.
The England international injured a hamstring in the warm-up at Fulham on Sunday and will be sidelined for over a month.
"Joleon went to see a doctor in London and he said it will be four or five weeks before he can come back," said the City boss.
"I think there is a good chance that Joleon could play in the last two weeks of the season.
"We are unlucky because Joleon is an important player for us and we have lost him in a crucial moment - but that is football."
