City Manager Says ”Form Doesn’t Count In Manchester Derby”

Manchester City manager Pellegrini says his side are not favourites to win Tuesday’s derby against Manchester United, saying that form doe not count when the two sides meet.

Pellegrini’s side hold a 12-point advantage over their city rivals and know a victory at Old Trafford will aid their quest for a second Premier League title in three years.

But the Chilean coach, whose first taste of the Manchester derby brought a thumping 4-1 win at the Etihad Stadium in September, has moved to play down the suggestion that the balance of power is shifting to the blue half of the city.

“I don’t think we are favourites in any game. We are in a good moment but we are playing against a big team in their own stadium, so I don’t think we are the favourites.”Of course we always expect to go and win every game but, I repeat, just because Manchester United have had a difficult season it does not mean we are going to win.

City sit six points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea with three games in hand, and Pellegrini will have captain Vincent Kompany back to bolster his defence at Old Trafford.

“All of us want to stay in every competition but when you are eliminated one of the positive things – if you can find a positive thing – is that we are now just focusing on the Premier League,” added Pellegrini.

“You don’t have problems in that sense, mentally or physically. We are just trying to fight for the title.

“I know we must go game by game and we just have to win on Tuesday and  then at Arsenal on Saturday after that.”