Manuel Pellegrini believes that Manchester City’s failures in their past three matches may be because they relaxed after qualifying early for the Champions League knockout phase.
City’s 3-1 victory at Sevilla on 3 November confirmed their progress with two matches of the group stage remaining. Since then they have drawn at Aston Villa and lost to Liverpool and Juventus. Southampton visit the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
“It’s always important to remember what we’re doing because maybe when you qualify for the next stage of the Champions League that is the week our performance dipped,” Pellegrini said. “Maybe not consciously you relax and that reflects in two or three balls in a game and that decides the score. [But] we are in a good position in every competition.”
City are third in the Premier League and have a Capital One Cup quarter-final at home to Hull City on Tuesday. Yet Pep Guardiola was again linked in a Spanish radio report with replacing Pellegrini as manager next summer. The Chilean signed a year extension to his deal that ties him to the club until 2017 but Pellegrini pointed to his performance rather than contract with regard to any job security he may have.
“The only confidence I have is always about my work,” he said. “That is the only way you must try to demonstrate the kind of manager you are. I never have any problem about my work, so it doesn’t matter what they say. If not, it’s impossible to work in this club – but not just in this club, but every big team.”
Pellegrini does not find the stories about Guardiola and his position disrespectful. “I don’t analyse different rumours,” he said. “Everyone can make rumours, write or talk about different rumours. It’s not a lack of respect about me – this is the profession. In every big team – Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester United – it is the same thing. You must have trust in your work, that’s very important.”
There was also a report that Lionel Messi may consider leaving Barcelona for City for a £800,000-a-week salary. “I don’t talk about rumours,” Pellegrini said. “I think every manager in the world would like Lionel Messi.”
Pellegrini is pleased David Silva is again available following nine games out with an ankle injury. “It is very important. David is a very important player, the same as Kun [Sergio Agüero]. David has a different way of playing. But as I said one of the merits of the squad was to play so many games without so many players. I hope both of them can recover their great performance [of earlier this season].”
Pellegrini confirmed Joe Hart’s hamstring injury rules him out. “You never know because it is important the way he improves, but maybe 10 days. Eliaquim Mangala [defender] has a muscle problem in his hamstring. I hope he will be fit for Stoke [on Saturday week].”
