Man U and Europe in City manager’s sights
MANCHESTER City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes his side will come out on top in the battle with Manchester United for the Premier League title and has promised “a different way from how they played in other years”.
And the first test of that promised “new approach” comes today when his side faces SuperSport United at Loftus Versfeld.
The Chilean was speaking to the English media for the first time prior to City’s trip to South Africa for the first leg of a pre-season tour.
The former Malaga coach recognised the desire for a strong season in Europe, following two disappointing Champions League campaigns under predecessor Roberto Mancini. But he said a quest to recover the league title from champions United would not be sidelined.
He said: “I know the last two years were not very good in the Champions League and I will try to improve that. That’s not the only thing, though, and I will try to get another Premier League title.
“When Manchester City won the league, it was one of the most important things for the club and we will try to repeat it. But we don’t have priority for one competition and we will try to do our best in all of them.”
Pellegrini does not believe the 2013-14 season — or City’s fierce rivalry with United — will be any less competitive following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, replaced by ex-Everton boss David Moyes at Old Trafford.
Jose Mourinho is also back at the helm of Chelsea after six years away but Pellegrini does not expect either boss to experience difficulties getting into their stride. “I’m sure Moyes will do very well and Mourinho already knows everything about the Premier League,” the Chilean added. “It will be a very competitive Premier League and five or six teams will try to win it.”
No matter where City finish in the table, the season’s two Manchester derbies provide another unofficial prize for the rival managers and fans, with the Citizens celebrating three victories from the last four league derbies.
Pellegrini said: “I know the most important thing for City fans is to beat United. I’m sure we will do it and this year, the same as other years, we will be on top of United.
“I also played United twice with Villarreal in the Champions League, in 2006 and 2009, and both times we qualified for the last 16 and they didn’t.”
The 59-year-old would not be drawn on specific transfer targets but conceded he is actively searching for a new striker in the wake of Carlos Tevez’s departure to Juventus.
City are reported to be interested in adding Napoli’s £54-million hitman Edinson Cavani to their forward ranks to take some of the pressure off Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero.
“I spoke with Carlos a few weeks ago and I felt that he didn’t want to stay here,” Pellegrini added. “He was very clear. It was the best choice for Carlos and the club. We have two strikers at the moment and we need another but I won’t name names at the moment. We need two players in every position and will try to do our best to get them.
“This week, we will check on the situations of all the players.
“I think we have a very good squad and some really good players so we can try to reach important targets.”
The double addition of Fernandinho, recently recruited from Shakhtar Donetsk, and £15-million winger Jesus Navas from Sevilla suggest Pellegrini is eager to translate the width and dynamism of his overachieving Malaga team to City, and he promised there would be a noticeable tactical switch.
“Fans of City will see a difference in the way we play. We will always try to play in the other team’s half and be an attacking team. Will it be better or worse? We will see from the scores against other teams,” said Pellegrini. — ©