Football
Mike Whalley 9y

Manuel Pellegrini: Manchester City will rediscover confidence for United derby

MANCHESTER -- Manuel Pellegrini is confident that his Manchester City players can overcome their "lack of trust" in time for Sunday's Premier League derby against Manchester United.

Ahead of their home game against neighbours United, City are on a poor run of form that has seen them stumble in three competitions.

A 2-2 draw away to CSKA Moscow on Oct. 21 has put their chances of Champions League progress at severe risk.

It was followed last Saturday with a 2-1 Premier League defeat at West Ham, which left Pellegrini's side in third place, six points adrift of leaders Chelsea.

And their hopes of retaining the Capital One Cup disappeared on Wednesday as they lost their fourth-round tie 2-0 at home to Newcastle.

After that latest defeat, Pellegrini suggested that his players were suffering from dented confidence, and that they were not gelling as a team because of what he called a "lack of trust" -- but he feels his players do have the capability to bounce back against United.

Asked to explain Wednesday's comments, Pellegrini told his pregame news conference on Friday: "I just was talking about the normal performance of our team. We need to play faster than we are doing -- but in both games against West Ham and Newcastle, the best player on the opposing side was the goalkeeper.

"I think the players know perfectly what we are doing and I am absolutely sure we will return to our normal performance."

Pellegrini also dismissed the suggestion that the derby match was more important than any other fixture for City.

The Chilean led his side to victory in both of last season's derbies against United -- then managed by David Moyes -- as he secured a 4-1 win at the Etihad Stadium and a 3-0 triumph at Old Trafford.

Asked if he felt Sunday's game was City's biggest of the season, Pellegrini said: "It is difficult to talk about that. I think every derby is different from another one. Both teams are maybe not in their best moments of the season but always a derby is special.

"But all the games are big games, especially when you have to win three points. Especially against Liverpool or Chelsea -- I always say they are games of six points.

"It's a very important game -- but every game has just three points, so it is very important for us to get the three points. The fact that it's a derby is more important for the fans."

Pellegrini also played down the idea that Sunday's match will be a personal battle between him and United manager Louis van Gaal, adding: "I think on Sunday, it's Manchester City against Manchester United, and last year it was exactly the same.

"It was not me against David Moyes last year, and on Sunday will not be me against Louis van Gaal."

^ Back to Top ^