Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes his side are embarking on a season-defining spell, as they bid to keep their quadruple hopes alive.

The Citizens are still in the hunt to achieve glory in all three domestic competitions, as well as in the Champions League, where they have made it through to the knock-out stages.

Pellegrini’s side booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 3-0 success at Norwich on Saturday, and they will now turn their attention back to league action with home matches to come against Everton and Crystal Palace this week.

City will then face an away trip to West Ham in the top flight on January 23, before they take on Everton once again in the second leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final, where they will be looking to reverse a 2-1 deficit.

The Manchester club will round off the month with an FA Cup fourth-round tie and Pellegrini knows how crucial the coming weeks could prove to be.

He told reporters: “It is always our aim at this club to be involved in all four competitions and January is a key month not only for the Premier League but also for both domestic cups.”

With the Champions League set to resume in February, the Chilean knows how important it will be for his side to close the gap on league pacesetters Arsenal and Leicester over the coming weeks.

He said: “In the Premier League it is important for us to close the gap on the two teams above us now because in February we start again in the Champions League.”

City were crowned league champions in both 2012 and 2014 and they are available at 2.20 to secure their third top flight triumph in five seasons during 2016.