MANUEL PELLEGRINI has given his Manchester City players licence to see the New Year in – but slapped a 1am curfew on them.
 |
| Manuel Pellegrini has hit his Manchester City players with a 1am New Year curfew |
City go to Watford on Saturday looking to end a six-game win-less away run, stretching back to September 12.
But that will not mean Pellegrini will prevent his stars form celebrating the New Year with friends and family.
Asked if the squad will be ordered to bed before midnight, he said: “No, not before midnight. All of them must celebrate New Year’s Eve but I think they can do it early – maximum 1am."
Pellegrini insists that while he is concerned with City’s away record – they have taken only three points from the last 18 on the road – he is not unhappy with the level of performances in their last two trips against title rivals Leicester and Arsenal.
“We must improve away,” he said. “It was good to keep a clean sheet at Leicester but for me the best thing from that game was to continue playing the same way we did in the last two games.
“We didn’t win at Arsenal but I don’t think we played a bad game. We then played very well at home to Sunderland and I think we also played very well at Leicester.
“Maybe we have to finish our chances a little bit better and improve the amount of offensive moments we have. But I think we are in the correct way.”
City were tipped to run away with the title when they won their opening five games of the season without conceding a goal but they go into the second half of the season three points behind Arsenal and Leicester, having lost five times.
Pellegrini however is happy they are in a position to make a title charge in the second half of the season.
He added: “We are in a good position. Always the best position is to be top of the table and in a normal season the amount of points we have would not be enough.
“But I think that this is a special season in the Premier League, we are just three points behind the leaders and I hope we are going to complete a very good second part of the season.”
Pellegrini says newly-promoted Watford – like Leicester - can no longer be regarded a surprise packets because they have sustained their form over 19 games.
“Maybe at the beginning of the season it can be a surprise, the same as Leicester, “ he said. “But when you play 19 games, half of the season, and they are continue to play in a good way, it is because they have important players in a good moment, putting in a high-level of performance, and with managers who are doing their jobs very well.”
Pellegrini has played down reports he is ready to pounce for Real Madrid midfielder Isco – who played for him at Malaga - in the January transfer window.
“No, really I think the squad is complete. As always, I said that we are not going to close the window but we are not really thinking of any special players to bring in.
 |
| Real Madrid star Isco has been linked with a move to Manchester City |
“I always answer the same for that question. I don’t talk about rumours. I am telling you what I am thinking about for our squad in this moment.
Pellegrini says City medical staff will do everything they can to get to the bottom of Vincent Kompany’s persistent calf problems.
Skipper Kompany has made only four starts since mid-September and is facing another month out.
“The club are doing everything we can to help Vincent to try to be fit and not continue with the same calf problems,” he said.
Kompany and long-term casualty Samir Nasri are City’s only absentees. Gael Clichy, Fernando and Fabian Delph are all fit again for the trip to Vicarage Road.
Post a Comment Blogger Facebook Disqus