Pellegrini likes City’s half-way position
Print Edition
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes his side’s profitable December has set them up to regain the English Premier League title in 2014.
City won six of its seven league games in December, only dropping points in a draw at Southampton, and are now just a point off leaders Arsenal heading into their first game of 2014 at Swansea City today.
The 2012 champions were eighth in the table at one point in November and looking in danger of being cut adrift by their title rivals, only to recover the deficit.
“I think it was a fantastic month for us,” Pellegrini said.
“In the Premier League, from the last seven we won six. It was very important for us to recover points. Arsenal were six points ahead of us so it is very important to finish the year in the position we wanted to be.
Meanwhile, Arsenal forward Theo Walcott says his side’s improved defensive performances have strengthened conviction within the club that Arsene Wenger’s men can clinch the title this season.
Arsenal limps into today’s home game against Cardiff City. Aaron Ramsey is out for three weeks with a thigh problem while striker Olivier Giroud will definitely miss the game because of an ankle problem. Playmaker Mesut Ozil is also sidelined, with the club awaiting results of a visit to a shoulder specialist
Still, Walcott believes the key to their progress lies at the back, where Arsenal has conceded only 18 goals in 19 league games — a record matched only by Everton in the top flight.
“I think you could see from the (final) 10 games last year that it was coming and that we had it in ourselves,” he told the club’s website.
“... We’ve got great character in that dressing room and we’re getting stronger and stronger every week. Everyone trusts each other, which is so important.”
Also, Chelsea captain John Terry believes his side will head to Southampton today buoyed by its best performance of the season in the victory over Liverpool.
Terry said there were signs in the Liverpool win that confirmed there is more to come from the team.
“I think the first half was the best we’ve played all season,” Terry said.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
