adminLONDON. — Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says he is “worried” by his side’s form going into Sunday’s English Premier League soccer derby against Manchester United.
Holders City were knocked out of the League Cup by Newcastle on Wednesday, having drawn at CSKA Moscow and lost at West Ham in their previous two games.
Pellegrini admitted his Manchester City flops are in crisis after crashing out of the Capital One Cup.
Pellegrini spoke of a “lack of trust and confidence” among his players.
City have now gone three games without a win as their season threatens to crumble around them.
Pellegrini refused to make excuses, but admitted his Premier League champions were suffering from a crisis in confidence.
To make matters worse David Silva (knee) and Yaya Toure (groin) both limped off with knocks and could now miss this weekend’s derby showdown with Manchester United.
“We must address this as soon as possible,” the Chilean said. “We will try to react as soon as we can.”
“There is a lack of confidence, which we must change as soon as possible because we are still in three competitions.
“We will see how we recover the confidence. We must find the solution. We are not playing as fast as we can, as freely as a team.
“I am worried about how we are playing, but we can improve in the Champions League and Premier League and when the FA Cup starts.
“We are out of one competition now, but it means we can now concentrate more on the other three.”
The 2-0 defeat by a youthful Newcastle side at Etihad Stadium capped a difficult week for Pellegrini and the Premier League champions.
Pellegrini made seven changes from Saturday’s 2-1 league defeat by West Ham but still named a strong side led by Cote d’lvoire midfielder Yaya Toure and containing 10 internationals. But they produced a lacklustre display as goals from Rolando Aarons and Moussa Sissoko put Newcastle into the quarter-finals.
City, who are third in the table, entertain a United team that are four points and five places behind their neighbours in the table.
“My feeling is that we are not playing well. We are in a difficult moment with a lack of trust,” Pellegrini said.
“We are conceding too (many) easy goals and we are not scoring the chances we have to score. — BBC Sport.
Online Reporter