Premier League: City boss on trophy trail after victory
NEWCASTLE UNITED 0 MANCHESTER CITY 2
MANCHESTER City manager Manuel Pellegrini insists his side have the appetite for more silverware after starting their title defence with victory over Newcastle at St James’ Park yesterday – a result which sent the reigning champions to the Premier League summit.
City were made to work by the Magpies but ensured their season began on the front foot thanks to goals in each half by Spanish playmaker David Silva and substitute Sergio Aguero.
City brushed aside Newcastle on the opening day of last season in Pellegrini’s first match in charge, and the former Malaga boss believes his players showed the right qualities to suggest more trophies could follow.
“I think the players were both hungry and humble,” said Pellegrini. “We need both those things if we are going to continue winning titles and if we want to improve on what we did last year.
“It was important to start with a win but also important that the players had that attitude from the beginning to the end of the game.”
Newcastle keeper Tim Krul was called into action after only two minutes to keep out Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko’s close-range effort after being picked out by former Fiorentina hitman Stevan Jovetic.
City opened the scoring in the 38th minute as Silva finished off a quick counter-attack by latching onto a clever back-heel from Dzeko and sweeping past Krul left-footed.
Spanish forward Ayoze Perez, who was signed from Tenerife this summer, almost marked his first Newcastle appearance in style, seeing his late deflected shot drift inches wide of the post after replacing fellow debutant Emmanuel Riviere.
The visitors made sure of the points in stoppage time as Argentine frontman Aguero, who replaced Dzeko in the 83rd minute, slotted home the rebound after his initial effort was turned away by Krul.
Despite the win, Pellegrini believes his players are still not fully prepared for the rigours of Premier football, with many of the City squad returning late for pre-season training following the World Cup.
“In the second half it was normal that we were starting to get tired,” he added. “The players are not able to play 90 minutes at the moment but we continued with our attitude and scored the second goal.”