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Pellegrini: City lack a superstar

SoccerNews in English Premier League 17 Mar 2015

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Manuel Pellegrini has underlined Manchester City’s lack of experience as a traditional powerhouse in English football and their failure to sign a superstar player as reasons for the Premier League champions’ difficulties this season.

City find themselves six points adrift of leaders Chelsea following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Burnley.

Pellegrini’s men are also on the brink of elimination from the UEFA Champions League and go into Wednesday’s away leg of their last-16 tie with Barcelona 2-1 down, leaving City’s season – and reportedly Pellegrini’s job – hanging in the balance.

“I prefer not to offer reasons [for their struggles], because they sound like excuses and there’s no excuse,” Pellegrini said in quotes reported by The Guardian.

“When you win something, if you don’t have that mentality that comes from a tradition of always winning, the built-in demands of a big club, there’s always a small dip.

“Where we have most slipped is goals. This was the ideal year [to build], [but] with the financial fair play restrictions, not only could we not sign, we couldn’t register players.

“To buy [Wilfried] Bony we had to leave [Stevan] Jovetic out [of their Champions League squad]. With those limitations, we strengthened defensively.

“We brought Willy Caballero to give Joe Hart competition, [Eliaquim] Mangala, who’s 23 and will be an important player, Fernando because Javier Garcia wanted to go, [Bacary] Sagna because Micah Richards was always injured. What we didn’t do was sign a ‘crack’ [superstar].”

Asked if he wanted to sign a marquee name, Pellegrini added: “Well, we have [Sergio] Aguero, but the answer is yes. The way it’s growing, I think this team needs a ‘crack’.”

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