Manchester City’s manager Manuel Pellegrini (L) sits in the dug out during the English Premier League match against Crystal Palace in Manchester on January 16, 2016. PHOTO/AFP.
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes that his side are capable of winning the Premier League title this season, despite sitting 10 points behind league leaders Leicester.
The Foxes’ 2-2 draw with West Brom on Tuesday saw their lead over fourth-placed City extend to a double-figure margin, although the Citizens have two games in hand,
Pellegrini’s troops will look to start the process of closing that gap when they face Liverpool on Wednesday, with their hopes of winning their second Premier League title in three years very much alive.
The Chilean believes that his side’s title-winning experience will be crucial in the closing stages of the campaign.
“The complete squad are confident they can win the title, especially as they have the experience,” Pellegrini told reporters. “I have talked about the first [Premier League] title that this club won. That year, they were eight points behind Manchester United, with three minutes of the final game to go, and United were the champions. In three minutes, football changed.
“Players with that experience, who have lived those moments, know this. The whole squad is concentrating on closing that gap. If we can do it sooner, that is better, but while we have chances, we’ll continue.”
City will head into their match against Liverpool hoping to make it two wins in less than a week against the Reds, as they beat the Merseyside outfit in a penalty shootout to win the Capital One Cup on Sunday.
Pellegrini has confirmed that midfielder Raheem Sterling will be included in the starting line-up even though he is expected to receive a hostile reception from the Anfield faithful
Sterling spent five years with Liverpool before a contract dispute led to him joining City for £49 million in July last year, a move which was met with great anger by Reds fans.
“I don’t see Raheem worrying about that. I don’t have any problems trusting him,” he said. “It’s not the best way, but I prefer to have those boos from the other team than from your own fans.
“The important thing is that Raheem and the other players feel the support when they play against their old team, because it’s difficult for any player to do it. But all of them are prepared to do it without any problem.”
