Pellegrini not bothered by Guardiola’s link to Man City
MANCHESTER City boss Manuel Pellegrini insists he isn’t worried about renewed speculation that Pep Guardiola is being lined up to take his job at the end of the season.
Guardiola is set to announce today that he will leave Bayern Munich once the current campaign finishes and that has triggered a fresh stream of reports claiming City will try to hire the Spaniard.
The former Barcelona boss has been linked with City for some time and Pellegrini is adamant he won’t let the latest stories distract him.
Asked on Friday if he was worried, the 62-year-old told reporters: “Absolutely not. I am not concerned about that. The only concern that I can have in my profession is to try and win the next game and to win the Premier League.”
The Chilean’s most immediate concern is tomorrow’s trip to title rivals Arsenal, with City, in third, trailing the second-placed Gunners by one point.
Pellegrini recognises the importance of the contest as City try to regain the title they last won under his leadership in 2014.
“It is not a decisive game because after that we have to play 21 games more — a lot of points — but it is important to demonstrate who is the best team of the first half of the season,” Pellegrini said.
City hope to have Argentina striker Sergio Aguero back after four games out with a heel injury.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has given winger Alexis Sanchez a “slight chance” of being included in his squad.
Arsenal will wait until the day of the game to see if the 26-year-old has recovered from the hamstring injury he sustained in the 1-1 draw with Norwich City last month.
“[There could be] one or two possible comebacks, maybe a very slight chance for Sanchez to be in the squad again. He is running but not participating in full training. I believe it’s normal for him to be keen to play but he respects all the decisions I make” the 66-year-old Frenchman said.
Arsenal will hope to open a fourpoint gap between themselves and City, but Wenger acknowledged it will not be easy but has backed his side to rise to the occasion.
“It [a win] will boost our chances to be at the top. City are a threat. You look at their individual quality and they are in it [the title race].
“We will need a top, top performance against them on Monday,” the 66-year-old Frenchman said. With seven players still on the sidelines, Wenger hinted the injury crisis at the club may force him to dip into the January transfer market. “We are open-minded and not the only ones that can decide on the speed of transfers. We have to adapt to availabilities but we are open to do something because we are short,” he said. —