Sven-Göran Eriksson attempted to play down fears yesterday that he may be sacked as Manchester City manager at the end of the season and insisted that he was determined to finish the job he started last summer.

Eriksson's job is under threat after Thaksin Shinawatra, the club's controversial owner, stunned supporters by announcing that he was considering replacing the former England head coach.

Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Brazilian who is expected to step down as Portugal coach after the European Championship this summer, has been touted as a possible successor, but Eriksson was unfazed when quizzed on the matter and is confident of seeing out the remaining two years on his contract.

“These kind of stories do not annoy me,” Eriksson said. “When you live in football you also live with the rumours. I have a contract for two more seasons and that is it. I am here to complete what I started.

“I can understand people not being happy with the second half of the season. I have not been happy with it, either, but after winning at Sunderland last weekend I hope we are back now and everything should be on track.”

Aside from the financial implications - Eriksson would cost about £5 million to pay off - the removal of the Swede would almost certainly lead to a backlash from supporters.

Eriksson has also dismissed reports that Michael Johnson, the England Under-21 midfield player who signed a new four-year contract last August, may join Liverpool in the summer. “I have heard that rumour ever since I joined the club last summer and we have still not been contacted by Liverpool,” Eriksson said. “It was only last summer that Michael signed a new contract and we have already said that we will talk about another one when this season is over.”