Kompany fit for Sevilla - Pellegrini

Despite missing the weekend win over AFC Bournemouth, Vincent Kompany is fit enough to face Sevilla , Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed.

Pellegrini was angry that Kompany played in Belgium's final Euro 2016 qualifier against Israel despite struggling with a calf problem, and he opted to leave the centre-back on the bench for Saturday's 5-1 victory.

Pellegrini has confirmed that Kompany is ready to play in Wednesday's Champions League clash, however, while Aleksandar Kolarov is also in the squad.

"Vincent was fit for the last game. Aleks is fit so is in the squad list," said the former Villarreal boss. "[Gael] Clichy, [Fabian] Delph, Sergio Aguero and David Silva are injured."

Pellegrini confirmed that Aguero, who damaged a hamstring while on Argentina duty, will definitely face a month on the sidelines - but there is better news concerning City's other injured trio.

"Aguero is out for a month. Maybe next week Clichy, Delph and Silva will be fit," he said.

Pellegrini has backed Wilfried Bony - who netted twice against Bournemouth - to continue his goalscoring form for City against a Sevilla side he expects to produce a stern test at the Etihad Stadium.

"Bony can play with or without Kun - Aguero doesn't have to be missing for him to play. He's a key player for this squad," he continued.

"Maybe everyone thought that Sevilla would be better in the Spanish league at this moment. They've maybe not started well but they beat Barcelona so it's not easy.

"I spoke with the players this morning, we are sure we will play against the real Sevilla tomorrow – it's different to the domestic league.

"I am sure we will see them qualified for the next Champions League at the end of the season. They are an important team.

"Tomorrow we have to win here at home against a difficult team – all the other things are just statistics and history and won't help us to win."

Moses and Sakho goals ends Man city unbeaten run

Victor Moses and Sakho have added salt to the injury of Manchester city after the loss to Juventus at the UEFA champions league first round group stage and then stunned by Westham

Six minutes wonderful low strike from Chelsea loanee put the Hammers on the lead before Sakho pen down the second goal of the game to give the visitors a 2-0 lead at 31st minute but Belgian play maker Kevin De Bruyne scored his first goal for Manchester city to pull one back at the stroke of half time

Manchester city still finds themselves on top but Manuel Pellegrini was in a terrible mood after having loss David Silva in the warm-up and seen his side conceeded two soft goals before half time.

In contrast, Hammers boss Slaven Bilic was super-bubbly, very apt given the songs coming from the away end at full-time, along with “We're going to win the League”.

'It has been a difficult week,' grimaced a curt Pellegrini. 'I told the players that West Ham would be hard opponents but we conceded two easy goals – we must be more concentrated.'

Pellegrini lauds record-breaking City

Manuel Pellegrini said the way his imperious Manchester City side performed at Everton gave him more satisfaction than equalling the club record for consecutive top-flight victories. according to soccerway

Second-half goals from Aleksandar Kolarov and Samir Nasri stretched City's winning run to nine Premier League matches - matching a record set way back in September 1912.

City made an early statement of intent by beating champions Chelsea 3-0 last Sunday and seven days on were hugely impressive once again at Goodison Park, where they made it three wins out of three at the start of the Premier League season.

Pellegrini stated that seeing his side perform in such a manner to return to the top of the table was more satisfying than entering the record books.

The City boss told Sky Sports: "I think it was a very professional performance, we were playing against a very difficult team.

"Both in the first and second [half] we very confident and solid and had more chances to score than Everton. Again we scored more goals and got a clean sheet, we are playing very well.

"We have a good squad and it is important to have all the players involved. It also important to understand we are just starting the season, we have only played three games. 

"Before the game someone told me that we can equal a club record, but more importantly we are top of the table and the most important thing is to see the team play as well as we are doing.

"I repeat it is only three games and the season finishes in May."

Kevin De Bruyne is still being strongly linked with a move to City and Pellegrini is not ruling out doing more business in the transfer window.

"The transfer window finishes on August 31, so we will see what happens," said the Chilean.

Pellegrini backs Sterling for improvement at City

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes Raheem Sterling will justify his hefty price tag and improve on his goalscoring return for the Premier League contenders.

City prised Sterling to Manchester from Liverpool in a deal believed to be rising to £49million last month - making him the most expensive English player in history and the club's record signing.

Sterling produced an assured performance on debut as City defeated West Brom 3-0 in their Premier League opener on Monday, having two good opportunities to open his account at The Hawthorns.

The 20-year-old England international will undoubtedly face a greater challenge on Sunday against defending champions Chelsea, who were reportedly interested in Sterling before City completed the deal.

And Pellegrini has backed Sterling to repay the faith and transfer fee, after scoring just seven goals in 35 Premier League appearances for the Reds last term.

"It is always important for young players to play with good players. You can improve, the same way Sterling did with Luis Suarez or Steven Gerrard for Liverpool," said Pellegrini.

"Here he will play with David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure - players that will make him improve in a lot of ways. Young players always learn from important players.

"Sterling will be a very dangerous player. Maybe we were criticised for the amount we paid for him but I am sure he will demonstrate during the year, especially against the big teams, why he was valued so much.

"Last year he scored 11 in all competitions. I am sure this season he will improve."

Pellegrini hints at further City signings

Manuel Pellegrini has revealed that Manchester City could make further signings ahead of the new season, but stopped short of naming any targets.

City have been busy in the transfer window, signing Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling in a reported £49million move while also bringing in midfielder Fabian Delph from Aston Villa, as well as teenagers Patrick Roberts and Enes Unal from Fulham and Bursaspor respectively.

The Premier League club have been linked with Wolfsburg's Kevin De Bruyne and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba as they seek to regain the Premier League title, having finished eight points behind champions Chelsea last season.

Pellegrini said ahead of Tuesday's International Champions Cup clash with Roma: "I don't talk about rumour and names.

"When we have the player that we want you will know in that moment but at the moment we just have Delph, Sterling and Patrick Roberts.

"We will see in the future maybe more players will arrive but we cannot talk about names because we are not sure who will come.

"Our target is to try and have the strongest squad. I am not talking about names or positions but in the next days probably you will see who will arrive here. We are trying to have only the strongest squad and we will see which is the position we need."

Jose Mourinho urges Manchester City not to sack old foe Pellegrini [Sun]

Jose Mourinho had some words of support for under-fire Manuel Pellegrini in his meeting with the written press on Friday.

According to the Sun, the Chelsea boss launched a strong defence of the Man City boss, who looks to be fighting for his job after a disastrous season, which will see them finish empty-handed.

Mourinho said that though Man City may not win the title this year, it would be ‘criminal’ of the City chiefs to get rid of the Chilean, considering his overall record.

It’s an interesting one from Mourinho, considering that Pellegrini is an old foe of his, dating back to their time in Spain.

With Mourinho having taken over from Pellegrini at Madrid and the Chilean having gone down south to manage Malaga, Mourinho had patronizingly said he would find himself in the position of having to join such a modest club.

That rankled with Pellegrini, but he’ll surely appreciate the support from Mourinho on this occasion.

If it was indeed genuine, that is…

Man City's Pellegrini: Forget the sack - I want a new deal

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says he does not fear being dismissed by the Blues and wants to extend his stay at the Etihad Stadium.

Manuel Pellegrini claims he is not fearing the City sack - and is even eyeing talks over a new contract!

Speculation over the 61-year-old’s future has intensified this week following the news that highly-rated coach Jurgen Klopp is set to leave Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season.

Despite the Blues’ disappointing Premier League title defence and failure to improve on last season’s European performance, the club’s hierarchy were thought to be prepared to stick with Pellegrini.

However, the availability of one of Europe’s top bosses in Klopp has given Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain a difficult decision to make come the summer.

Pellegrini is unconcerned by rumours regarding his job security, however, and when asked whether he would like to extend his stay at the Etihad Stadium, he replied: “Of course - I’m very happy.

“This is one of the most important clubs in the world, I’m very happy with the fans, the owner, the players. I’m unhappy with the results, especially this year. But i’m very happy here.

“[There have been] no talks - I have one year more I don’t need to.

“I am not thinking about next year. I have a contract for one more year and I continue working because I know I have the support of the owners, the players, the fans, everyone.

“We need all of them behind the club for these last games so I don’t feel any pressure about that. I am not thinking about the future.”

Pellegrini wants reinforcement

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has already started planning for next season by stating he wants to sign high-profile reinforcements.

City - fourth in the table heading into Monday's trip to Crystal Palace - appear destined to relinquish their Premier League crown as Chelsea top the standings by nine points ahead of Pellegrini's men with eight matches remaining.

Pellegrini faces an uncertain future with City set for a trophy-less season after bowing out of the UEFA Champions League last month.

But the Chilean boss provided an insight into how City will approach the transfer window at the end of the 2014-15 campaign.

"It is the way of thinking that big teams need to sign a big player. It is very difficult to do it every year, but every two years you must do it," said Pellegrini, whose side can reclaim second spot with victory at Selhurst Park.

"I'm not just talking about Manchester City. You see Real Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona and Bayern Munich – all the big clubs – they all do it. It is important to have big names.

"I don't want to talk about plans for next season because we have to finish this season. It is very important the way we finish this season before we analyse all the players. So it is not the right moment to talk about it."

Pellegrini rubbishes ´disaster´ talk at City

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has dismissed talk of a crisis at the club following their UEFA Champions League exit and faltering Premier League title defence.

City were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Barcelona on Wednesday, having previously slipped six points behind league leaders Chelsea with a shock defeat at Burnley last weekend.

As Pellegrini's men prepare to return to domestic action against West Brom on Saturday, the Chilean has moved to play down criticism aimed at City. 

Asked on Friday whether he was still enjoying the job, Pellegrini answered: "Yes. I have just played Barcelona in the Champions League, now we are fighting for the best league in the world.

"If you do not enjoy it, you should see a doctor. We are in second position and that's not a disaster, only Chelsea have done better. We try now to play the last nine games at our best.

"I have been here less than two years. Last year we won the league and a cup [the League Cup]. That is not easy. Everyone in England is strong.

"Every manager, when they have not been winning, is under pressure. It has happened with Liverpool, Arsenal, now me.

"In Spain, the same has happened with [Real Madrid coach] Carlo Ancelotti and he has won four titles."

For the visit of West Brom, Pellegrini looks set to be without Yaya Toure due to an Achilles injury, with Aleksandar Kolarov (muscle) and James Milner (knee) also doubts.

"We haven't had long to recover. Maybe we are going to refresh the team mentally," the City boss added.

Pellegrini marvels at Barca and Messi magic

Manuel Pellegrini accepted his Manchester City side were deservedly beaten as Barcelona knocked them out of the UEFA Champions League for a second consecutive season.

Barcelona took a 2-1 lead into Wednesday's second leg at the Camp Nou - an advantage extended by Ivan Rakitic's 31st-minute strike in a 1-0 win on the night, as Argentine superstar Lionel Messi reached his imperious best for the hosts.

Luis Enrique's side would have won by a far bigger margin but for a magnificent display by City goalkeeper Joe Hart, while they were also spared a nervy finish when Sergio Aguero spurned a 77th-minute penalty.

"I think we lost against a better team without doubt," Pellegrini told Sky Sports.

"Lionel Messi is very difficult to contain. Maybe we didn't play so well in the first half but we improved in the second and we took risks.

"We needed to score two goals and we thought it might happen had we scored the penalty. That was a very important moment because we had 15 minutes more to play."

Pellegrini was widely criticised for taking a cavalier approach when he picked two strikers for the opening leg at the Etihad Stadium and his midfield was comprehensively overrun.

Aguero featured as a lone forward in the return leg - prompting his manager to suggest that tinkering with formations can be futile when faced with the quality possessed by La Liga's leaders.

"We have had four games against Barca and we played with four different formations," he said.

"So [the tactics] were not a problem, it was the performance."

City's defence of their domestic title has faltered badly since the turn of the year and a failure to secure further progress in Europe means Pellegrini's position as manager is likely to remain under heavy scrutiny.

But the Chilean brushed off suggestion that he was feeling the pressure of his situation, and pointed to City's punishments under UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules as a mitigating factor in their continental campaign.

FFP punishments meant City could only name a 23-man squad for the Champions League, while their net spending last close season was restricted to €60m.

"All of us wanted to continue, we need to improve in Europe and maybe in the last two years we did improve," he continued.

"We have gone through to the last 16 and we were very unlucky we played against Barcelona, but at least we qualified [for the knockout stages].

"I also think it was not our best year to continue in Europe because of [Financial Fair Play] restrictions with the amount of players and money so it was difficult in that sense."

Manchester City needs outstanding performance against Barcelona

Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City were defeated 1-0 at relegation-threatened Burnley on Saturday evening.

The defeat and Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Southampton leaves the Citizens six points behind the league leaders and the Blues also have a game in-hand.

It also leaves City looking over their shoulders nervously with Arsenal just a point behind them and arch-rivals Manchester United just two points behind them.

Europe

City’s attention will be drawn away from the Premier League on Wednesday night though, as Manuel Pellegrini’s side travel to Barcelona for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

The first leg ended 2-1 to the team from Catalonia, but it could have proved far worse with Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi seeing a late penalty saved by Joe Hart, before the diminutive forward headed wide with the rebound.

City will have to play far better than they did at Turf Moor, or they could be facing a major embarrassment indeed in Spain.

Performance

City’s performance against Burnley was poor. They had a penalty claim turned down and Clarets keeper Tom Heaton enjoyed a good game, but still Burnley showed more desire and City simply did not show their undoubted quality in the clash.

Tactics

City boss Manuel Pellegrini got his tactics completely wrong against Barcelona in the first leg. He started the game with two up front against a Barcelona team that likes to dominate the ball and they were punished.

It is not the first time the Chilean has made such a naïve tactical mistake. He tends to make a habit of repeating this in Europe and against teams that are simply too good for City.

For all the money that City has spent in the last few years, they are still not good enough to attempt to go toe-to-toe with Barcelona in Europe, very few teams are on current form.

Pellegrini is considered a good coach, but maybe the reason why he is not considered a great coach is the fact that he makes the same tactics over and over. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

If Pellegrini decides to start with two up front against Barcelona on Wednesday night, then the men in the white coats may just come to take the Chilean away, because that would be complete and utter madness.

City do need to get back into the tie, but such is the threat from the Barcelona attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, they also have to make sure they are solid in midfield and defence.

City have been far from solid in either area of the pitch of late and have lost three out of their last four games in all competitions, the sole victory in that run coming against bottom of the table Leicester City.

City have also kept just two clean sheets in their last six games in all competitions, which will be a major concern for Pellegrini and his staff. It is not exactly an encouraging fact heading into a game against arguably the best attacking team in club football.