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Citizen

Manuel Pellegrini eyeing trophies with Manchester City

“Five or six teams are always trying to win the Premier League and I’ll try to do that with Manchester City,” he said today.

MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER Manuel Pellegrini is targeting success in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League this season.

Roberto Mancini was sacked at the back-end of last season after City surrendered their league title to Manchester United, lost in the FA Cup final to Wigan Athletic and failed to progress past the Champions League group stage for the second straight campaign.

And Pellegrini, who gave his first press conference today after being hired in June, is determined to compete on multiple fronts.

“Five or six teams are always trying to win the Premier League and I’ll try to do that with Manchester City,” he said. “I think that the Premier League is so important, as is the Champions League. I know the last two years weren’t good for Manchester City in Europe, but I’ll try to change that. “When Manchester City won the Premier League, was one of the most important days for this club. I will try to repeat it.”

The Chilean also revealed City fans could expect a difference in the way the team plays as he seeks to replicate the attacking style he has utilised in La Liga with Real Madrid, Villarreal and Malaga.  However, he would not be drawn on the likes of Gareth Barry and Joleon Lescott, who have been linked with leaving the Etihad Stadium, but confirmed that he had met with Carlos Tevez before his departure to Juventus last week.

“I spoke with Carlos a couple of weeks ago and I feel he didn’t want to stay here anymore. He was very clear to tell me,” he added. Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho was also presented alongside his new manager and the former Shakhtar Donetsk man is determined to star for City in order to reimburse the club’s faith in him and force his way into contention for a spot in Brazil’s squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

He added: “I want to repay the club for what they have done for me by playing well on the pitch by winning as many trophies as possible. That is one of my aims. “My first aim is to play well for Manchester City, and if I have good performances I’m sure that will catch the attention of the national manager (Luiz Felipe Scolari), but the first thing is to play well.”

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