SOUNESS BACKS CITY

Sky sports pundit Graeme Souness is of the opinion that Chilean manager Manuel Pellegrini will be able to lead Manchester City to title success this campaign. City watched archrivals Manchester United lift their 20th league title last season. Even more than that disappointment, City were thought to be extremely concerned about the failure to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions league in consecutive seasons. This led to the arrival of Pellegrini, whose will be experiencing English football for the first time. He has managed clubs only in Spain and South America.

His biggest job till date was at Real Madrid, but he did not last more than 12 months. He also did not win any major trophies during his time at Real Madrid, which has led to many believing that Pellegrini will take some time adapting to English football. Souness, though, thinks that the manager has enough quality to have led to teams into the semifinals of the Champions league. This will certainly hold him in good stead. The absence of Sir Alex Ferguson makes it a little bit easier for Pellegrini, who will win the league title in his first season according to Souness.

City have already spent close to £ 100 million on improving their squad.

“If you look at what Roberto Mancini did last year. He won the league the year before scoring the most goals and conceding the fewest. So what does he decide to do? He changes the system. Why? Why would you do that? Because I believe a year ago City had the strongest group and I believe now they have the strongest group. But that does not mean they are going to win it. But I do like the manager they have got. I think he’s a manager who keeps it simple,” said the former Liverpool manager.

HAPPY WITH SIGNINGS

New Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini took time to praise the club’s new signings – Fernandinho and Jesus Navas – when he was unveiled by the club. City have been in discussions with the South American for the last few weeks since the sacking of Mancini. However, they have been able to unveil the former Malaga manager only now. He is expected to achieve success at the European level, which is something that the former manager failed to do despite winning two domestic trophies. Pellegrini will also be responsible for getting the Premier league trophy back to the Etihad stadium.

He will be meeting a Manchester United club that will be without Sir Alex Ferguson as its manager for the first time in 26 years. Some see this as a great signing for Pellegrini to win the league in his first season at the club. However, the South American has not managed league clubs to league titles in Europe. In his only major job at a big club, Pellegrini was rather disappointing as he failed to win any major trophies with Real Madrid. However, he said that he has an extremely strong squad at his disposal.

He also praised Fernandinho and Jesus Navas by saying that they could be crucial to the club this season. Both players were brought into the club for close to £50 million.

“He has impressed me on a number of occasions over the past few years and is another player I’ve taken a keen interest in. He is an experienced international who will further strengthen our midfield and I think he will be well suited to the Premier League. I’m very happy that he was one of my first signings as Manchester City manager and I think he will excite our supporters,” said the South American about Navas and Fernandinho.