Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini unconcerned by City’s lack of European home comforts
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has dismissed as irrelevant his side’s propensity to suffer Champions League home woes as they prepare for tonight’s showdown with Sevilla.
Pellegrini’s side enter the contest on the back of convincing Premier League victories against Newcastle United and Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium, although their European form on home soil has proved an unfathomable conundrum.
City have recorded just three victories in their last 12 home matches in the competition, although it is not a weakness which Pellegrini is obsessing himself over as a place in the top two of Group A beckons.
“I don’t know the exact statistics but they are the numbers and of course we must improve,” said Pellegrini. “But we are just thinking about one game, not what happened in the past.
“We have to win here at home in the Champions League against a difficult team. All the other things are statistics or history that will not help us to win or lose. I cannot talk about that.”
Chilean Pellegrini has confirmed that the leg injury which Sergio Aguero suffered while on international duty with Argentina earlier this month will sideline the prolific striker for a further month.
City are also without midfield pair David Silva and Fabian Delph as well as full-back Gael Clichy, although skipper Vincent Kompany and fellow defender Aleksandar Kolarov have been passed fit.
Pellegrini has also moved to play down suggestions that midfielder Yaya Toure is unhappy at the Etihad Stadium, after the Ivorian claimed that he deserves greater recognition from the media for his achievements while at City.
“It is different to not be happy about the criticism or the recognition, than to not be happy,” added Pellegrini. “They are different words, you can interpret them how you want but I think Yaya is happy here. He doesn’t have any problems. I don’t have to answer how important Yaya is. The answer is in his performances in the last four years.”