MANUEL PELLEGRINI believes he can transform Manchester City from European chumps to champs. Predecessor Roberto Mancini claimed last week City are still a long way behind the Champions League big guns. But the Chilean coach has an impressive record on the biggest European stage, having guided Villarreal and Malaga to the latter stages in recent years. And Pellegrini insists he knows the changes which need to be made to prevent his side crashing out at the group stage for the third successive year. The former Real Madrid coach said: “With Manchester City, we can do better than I did in Spain — although it’s not easy to get in the semi or the quarter-final twice. “I think we can win it. This club needs to do that — at least get passed the first stage and our squad is better than that. “I know the style we need to play in Europe. “It must be different because, in the last two years, the club did not make it out of the group stages.” Malaga came within a controversial goal of a last-four Champions League place last season. Meanwhile, City were toiling in their ‘Group of Death’ and were KO’d after the worst-ever campaign by an English club, managing a paltry three points. Pellegrini, who is nicknamed The Engineer, added: “For me it was a surprise. “I know last year they had a very difficult group, but before it started I expected City and Real Madrid to go through. “But Borussia Dortmund made it to the final.” While Mancini was accused of being too cautious at times during his reign at the Etihad, Pellegrini reckons attack will be the best form of defence this year. He said: “It’s very important that my team has a winning mentality — to always think they are playing as a big team, not a little team. “I’m not saying that in comparison to Mancini or Mark Hughes, but we don’t want to just score a goal then retreat and defend then play on the counter-attack. We’ll try to score another goal.” Pellegrini, 59 takes charge of City for the first time today when they face Supersport United in Pretoria. And he maintains he is prepared for anything following his spell in Argentina. He added: “River Plate v Boca Juniors is a very different rivalry. It’s crazy in Argentina. If a coach has worked there he can work anywhere in the world.” Meanwhile, Pellegrini will hand a lifeline to striker Edin Dzeko, even though he wants to land Alvaro Negredo, Stevan Jovetic and Oscar Cardozo. The £27million Bosnian was linked with a move away this summer. But the boss said: “For me, he’s a very important player and I’m sure this year he will give the performances we know he is capable of.”
Posted on: Sun, 14 Jul 2013 09:13:03 +0000