Manuel Pellegrini remained defiant over Manchester City’s ailing form ahead of Sunday’s derby against Manchester United.
The reigning Barclays Premier League champions slumped to a third consecutive away league defeat, and fourth in all competitions in a row on the road, after losing 2-1 at Crystal Palace on Monday to hit badly their title defence.
City were level on points with leaders Chelsea on New Year’s Day, but four wins and as many losses over the 11 subsequent league matches means they head to Old Trafford a point and a place behind United in fourth.
Pellegrini insists his team are still doing plenty of good work on the field, having seen them dominate for long periods without reward at Selhurst Park.
“We lost the last three [away league] games, especially the last two with two goals in set-pieces, against Burnley and Palace,” the City manager said. “We hope we continue keeping the good things we are doing because we are not a disaster, we’re not a mess. We are doing a lot of things well.”
Captain Vincent Kompany is facing a late fitness test on a hamstring injury sustained during the second half against Palace, while the attacking pair Wilfried Bony (ankle/knee) and Stevan Jovetic (muscle strain) remain injured.
That could mean a start for Edin Dzeko alongside Sergio Aguero in attack. The Bosnia striker has four Barclays Premier League goals this season, the same number he has netted on his past two appearances at Old Trafford.
City can be buoyed by an impressive recent form against their neighbours, having won the past four derbies and six of the last seven in the league. A victory at the weekend would make City the first team to win five consecutive Barclays Premier League matches against United.
Louis van Gaal and his squad can be buoyed by a haul of 40 points at home this term, the highest number in the Barclays Premier League, where they are on a winning run of five matches. Nevertheless, the Dutchman is keen to keep his players on their toes.
“‘Never change a winning team’ is an English expression,” he told MUTV. “You must see the quality of your opponent and make a decision with the staff, so it’s not always [about] never changing the team.”
Robin van Persie has returned to training for United following an ankle injury, but the 169th Manchester derby comes too soon for him, while defenders Chris Smalling (illness) and Luke Shaw (hamstring) will be assessed.
Manchester United (from): De Gea, Valdes, Lindegaard, Blackett, Jones, McNair, Rafael, Rojo, Shaw, Smalling, Blind, Carrick, Di Maria, Fellaini, Herrera, Januzaj, Mata, Pereira, Powell, Valencia, Young, Falcao, Rooney.
Manchester City (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Boyata, Clichy, Demichelis, Kolarov, Kompany, Mangala, Sagna, Zabaleta, Fernandinho, Fernando, Lampard, Milner, Nasri, Navas, Silva, Toure, Aguero, Dzeko.
source:premierleague.com
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 