Manuel Pellegrini and his Manchester City team restored domestic supremacy at the Etihad last term and the expectation is that they will repeat the trick. Were building a club, not just a team that wins trophies every now and again, captain Vincent Kompany said after last seasons title triumph. Every single year I have a feeling that we need to be better, and next year we have to be even better. Their last defence - under Roberto Mancini - proved to be a lamentable effort. Combined with difficulties in meeting the owners Champions League objectives, it cost the Italian his job. Those remain the twin ambitions. Both, not one, will define the coming season and Pellegrinis tenure. City must ensure their domestic juggernaut remains on track while guaranteeing the type of performances which place the club among Europes elites. Its not an easy balancing act and, to the public at least, Pellegrini doesnt admit where his priorities lie. I don’t have a target to win titles. Every time I play a competition, I want to win it, he told the press on Friday. City have had their hands tied in the transfer market this summer due to FFP but they have improved a squad which was good enough to win the league convincingly. Pellegrini was asked to fend off some early criticism as results, particularly away from home, failed to materialise but he remained true to his means. At the beginning of the season when we had just four points from our first six away games, Pellegrini has said. That is not too many points for a team that wants to win the title. A good league campaign is necessary to perpetuate competition in the Champions League so they can neglect their league duties at their peril. Pellegrini discovered very quickly, away from home in particular, that there is not always a guarantee of three points no matter how modest the opposition. While last season was about demonstrating that City were capable of returning to the summit, the coming campaign is all about the question of whether or not they can sustain it. I think one of the most important things for me is to have an ambitious mind, he told the clubs official website last season. Its very important to win titles. We have already won titles but we must analyse all the good things we did, the bad things and where we must improve. That is the best way to do it so we have a lot of work. There are two now that feature foremost for City. Their maiden league win in 2012 was the chief statement of intent in English football. The bigger prize - the Champions League - remains a little out of Citys reach at this stage of their development but there is no question that it is the one prize that appeals most to Citys owners in Abu Dhabi. The investment in Manchester City in 2008 was primarily motivated by a desire to solidify the emirates image on the global stage. As prestigious as the Premier League is around the world, only the Champions League will bring that kind of kudos.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 14:39:33 +0000
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