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| Manuel Pellegrini disagrees with Louis Van Gaal's claims that his side have an advantage |
MANUEL PELLEGRINI disagrees with Louis Van Gaal’s claim that Manchester United’s midweek trip to Moscow has given neighbours City an advantage ahead of Sunday’s derby at Old Trafford.
Van Gaal claims he faces a tough job freshening up his players following the 3,200 round trip to play CSKA Moscow on the same night City were at home to Sevilla.
But Pellegrini does not agree because he thinks three days is enough to recover players.
He said: “No, I don’t think it will be a key factor. Normally the key factors in big games are the individual performances of players in that game.
“I don’t think we have an advantage. Maybe if the derby was tomorrow [Saturday] and not Sunday it would be a small advantage, but I don’t think United will have any problem to recover from Wednesday to Sunday.”
Pellegrini says Sunday’s game will not have a hugely significant bearing on the Premier League title race because there are still so many fixtures to play.
He added: “Of course, it is an important three points and I always says it is a six-pointer because you’re playing the team behind you. But it will not be a game that decides the title because there are still 90 points to play for.”
He also refused to indicate if he feels United are a greater title threat this season.
“I always say the same, it’s very difficult to compare one season with one moment of the season. Maybe last season we didn’t finish with any silverware. We didn’t start very well but in January we were top of the table.
"The Premier League is a difficult league, in every one of the 38 games you must play it like a final and after that you can analyse which team has done it better.
“We are in a good moment and top of the table but that doesn’t mean we’re going to have a better season than the last one. It’s important not to make the same mistakes and improve every game.”
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| Man United boss Van Gaal reckons City have an advantage because they played at home in midweek |
And while Pellegrini would love to continue his good Manchester derby record - he has won three out of four so far - he would rather win the title.
“Maybe the most exciting thing for everyone is to win the title," he said. "If you win against a team from the same city, for some people it can be better. But for me, the most important thing is to demonstrate that you are the best team [over the course of the season].
“For the city of Manchester it’s always a special game. It’s different when you win it to when you lose. It’s very important for both sets of fans to win and for both to be able to demonstrate who is the best team in the city.
“Of course, it’s very important as a team to win this derby because it’s a special game for fans.”
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