CITY BOSS DEFENDS BOOS FOR UEFA SONG
MANUEL PELLEGRINI has defended the right of Manchester City fans to boo the Champions League anthem in protest at UEFA. City are facing a charge from European football’s governing body after their fans once again jeered the pre-match music before Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Sevilla. Pellegrini insisted fans who pay to watch football should be free to make their feelings known — as long as it is done in a decent manner. The City boss, whose side face Manchester United at Old Trafford tomorrow, claimed that showing disapproval of UEFA and their anthem was no different from booing players, managers or referees. ‘Everyone has the right to express what they feel, with order and respect,’ he said. ‘I don’t know why UEFA think that about our fans. But it’s the same for the manager, the players and the referee — the fans pay for their tickets and can express what they feel.’ City fans have been unhappy with UEFA’s treatment of their club for some time, in particular a £50million fine last year for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations. An investigation into the booing will be heard by a disciplinary panel next month. Pellegrini added: ‘I always say to my players that the fans boo for a reason. Maybe fans can make mistakes and boo a player or manager for one action, but it’s difficult to think all the fans are making mistakes.’ The City boss must decide whether to recall captain Vincent Kompany to his line-up at Old Trafford after leaving him on the bench for the last two games. Pellegrini dismissed suggestions that it was punishment for Kompany playing in a Euro 2016 qualifier for Belgium against his wishes when the 29-year-old defender was still recovering from a calf injury. ‘I’m not punishing Vincent and I don’t have any problem with him. Every week I have to choose the starting XI that I think is the best, the other players must wait,’ said Pellegrini. ‘After five weeks without playing or training, you are not ready to play. ‘But I always say this team is better with Vincent than without him.’ The issue took another twist on Wednesday when Kompany came on as a late substitute for Kevin de Bruyne against Sevilla and Pellegrini appeared to prevent Yaya Toure from handing him the captain’s armband. But Pellegrini blamed it on a mix-up over who was being replaced, saying: ‘It’s very easy to explain. Yaya was changing the armband because he thought he was leaving the pitch, but it was de Bruyne.’ United can overtake City at the summit with victory tomorrow. Asked about the balance of power, Old Trafford boss Louis van Gaal said: ‘I’m happy we are more balanced in our squad than we were last year. ‘Of course we have started very well when you compare it to last season but, when compared to City, we are two points behind. ‘We were first in the table then lost at Arsenal. It will only be clear at the end of the season if we have improved.’