CITY ARE BIG BOYS TOO
We’ll go for goals says Pellegrini as he faces return trip to Madrid
MANUEL Pellegrini has vowed that Manchester City will attack Real Madrid as he prepares for a reunion with the Spanish giants.
City avoided an awkward semifinal with Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich yesterday — and a meeting with Real in the Champions League last four holds no fear for Pellegrini.
The Chilean was unceremoniously jilted at the Bernabeu six years ago, despite guiding them to a record La Liga points total and finishing second behind Barcelona in his only season in charge. While Pellegrini maintained he is not bothered about revenge, he believes he can plot City’s progression to the Milan Final on May 28.
‘At Madrid it was very unlucky to lose that league with 96 points and 102 goals — 75 per cent of supporters wanted me to stay,’ he said.
‘We are going to play against them like we always do — playing and thinking as a big team. We are going to try to score the most goals we can. I hope this team will reach the Final this year. ‘There are no favourites, both teams have the same options. It’s
the same now. Maybe another way of thinking is: “It’s easier to say they have all the pressure because they are a big team,” but I don’t think that is the way.
‘They have very big players, maybe they are the most important team in the world, but we also have very good players and we know that if we play how we play every week, we have a chance to win.’
Pellegrini was not bothered who City were paired with in Nyon yesterday, but did admit to being relieved that Barcelona are no longer in the competition.
Atletico Madrid dispatched Luis Enrique’s side on Wednesday, with Pellegrini visibly pleased there could be no possibility of City crashing at the hands of Barca for a third consecutive year.
‘If you ask me, do I prefer not to play against them, I prefer not to play against them,’ he said. ‘Now it could be a mental barrier — when the same team beat you twice it can be a mental barrier. I think it was a Barcelona barrier.’
City are much improved thanks to £55million Kevin de Bruyne, who swept in Tuesday’s winner against Paris Saint-Germain.
Chelsea sold the Belgian to Wolfsburg two years, ago and Pellegrini added: ‘I suppose they’re not happy — but that happens.’
City face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge later today without captain Vincent Kompany and David Silva.
Silva is being protected because of an ongoing ankle complaint and Pellegrini is saving him for the home semi-final first leg on April 26.
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane urged his players not to underestimate City.
‘Real Madrid are always the favourites and that’s no different,’ said Zidane. ‘But City are a great team. I do not want to hear people say Manchester City will be an easy opponent.
‘I see City as a strong opponent, just like Roma and Wolfsburg were difficult rivals. The positive thing is that we play the return at home. It will be a balanced tie.’