Abu Dhabi: Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is confident of overcoming mighty Chelsea and Barcelona after his side cruised to a 2-0 friendly win over Hamburg in Al Ain on Wednesday.
Pellegrini hailed the victory, which was sealed through second-half goals from Stevan Jovetic and Edin Dzeko, as ‘very useful’ — then turned his attention to more important assignments.
The Chilean appeared thoroughly unfazed by the daunting nature of a January 31 trip to English Premier League leaders Chelsea, who have a five-point advantage over second-placed City, and a Champions League last-16 encounter with Barcelona next month.
Does the gap to Chelsea concern him and is the two sides’ meeting a must-win game for City? Speaking after Wednesday’s friendly at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Pellegrini said: “We have to play for another 48 points and five points is an important gap, but at the end of the game we hope that we can be closer. We have to have a lot of trust we can win that game.
“There are a lot of games and points left for us to recover and win the title.”
The Chilean rejected the assertion that City’s EPL title defence would be in tatters if they do not win at Stamford Bridge, although he conceded that it was a game his side could not afford to lose.
Pellegrini, who brought his men to the UAE for a warm-weather training break this week, added: “If we don’t win, we will keep fighting for the title as you never know what can happen in football.”
He went on to stress that his immediate focus was on Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round clash against Middlesbrough at home, but added of the impending Barcelona test: “Before that game, we have to play important games in the league and the FA Cup. We know we have to play against a very strong team [in Barcelona] and we have to improve our attacking and defending if we want to qualify [for the next round].
“We will have to play a very good game to do that, but we have every trust that we can do it.”
Pellegrini also quelled fears that midfielder Frank Lampard could miss the Middlesbrough game and an emotional return to former club Chelsea after sustaining a hamstring injury against Hamburg.
He felt the injury was only ‘a small problem’, which Lampard suffered in the warm-up and that caused him to be replaced by winger Scott Sinclair after only 22 minutes.
The veteran had asked to play, revealed Pellegrini, who said he withdrew Lampard as a precautionary measure.
The City supremo also admitted he could make further signings before the January transfer window closes to add to the capture of Swansea City striker Wilfried Bony last week.
Meanwhile, Hamburg coach Josef Zinnbauer said he was pleased with the display of his side, who acquitted themselves well in the first half before being overrun in the second, against ‘a big club’.
Hamburg, who are in the middle of a Bundesliga winter break, were without a number of injured players, including midfielder Lewis Holtby and their leading striker, Pierre-Michel Lasogga.
