Manchester City deserve more media credit, says Manuel Pellegrini
Manuel Pellegrini rounded on Manchester City's critics after Roma were beaten and the Champions League knockout stage was reached, with the manager claiming his side are a complete team.
City won 2-0 through a spectacular 60th-minute Samir Nasri strike and Pablo Zabaleta's late goal as CSKA Moscow's defeat in Munich confirmed Pellegrini's side as second in the group. City had won only once previously in the section, the 3-2 win over Bayern a fortnight ago, as they struggled for form in the competition.
Pellegrini said: "We have a lot of different critics. Last time we qualified with many points but played Barcelona and had a player sent off [in the last 16]. This year against the Russian team [CSKA Moscow] we drew a game and that was important but we recovered and we are playing the same way in Premier League and Champions League. This team deserve a little more credit than the press always give us."
Pellegrini had named a team without Sergio Agüero, Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Stevan Jovetic, because of respective injuries and match-fitness concerns, plus the suspended Yaya Touré.
The greatest loss was that of the 19-goal Agüero but the manager said: "We are more than just Kun. This team is more than just one player. It's not relief [we feel]. After we beat Bayern I knew we had a good chance. I'm very happy because we beat a good team and played well from the beginning to the end. I trust in the players and the squad deserves more credit.
"I think the two centre-halves played very well. Martín Demichelis is experienced and Mangala we bought because he is a good player. He had some problems but I trust him and they both played very well. We are a compete team defending and attacking."
In Monday's draw in Nyon, City will be drawn against a group winner other than Bayern or Chelsea. "We will see in February what happens," said Pellegrini. "We are not trying to send messages to people. We must forget about the Champions League now. We have important games in the Premier League and that is as important, maybe it is more important.
"My message? We are happy because we achieved a target and now we will try to catch Chelsea. I think Roma are a good team and played well but against Roma in Manchester it was the worst we played and we still drew. Here I knew that if we played as we have in the Premier League then we had a good chance to qualify."
This was City's sixth consecutive win. "Trust has been key," said the Chilean. "We were sure playing the way we have played in recent weeks we must win. We recovered our
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