adminMANCHESTER. — Manchester City will not rest on their laurels after finishing on top of the Barclays English Premier League soccer table for the second time in three years, manager Manuel Pellegrini said. Pellegrini savoured Manchester City’s Barclays Premier League title triumph, then vowed to start building on the club’s success immediately.
The 2-0 victory over West Ham United on Sunday ensured City finished two points clear of second-placed Liverpool and meant that there was no repeat of the drama that surrounded their first Premier League title win in 2012.
Pellegrini, who is from Chile, also became the first non-European manager to win the biggest prize in English football. It is a matter of some pride to the patriotic 60-year-old, although his main focus, starting this week, will be ensuring City do not repeat their form of two years ago and follow a championship-winning campaign with a weak title defence.
“Big teams cannot be satisfied with one title,” he said.
“It’s very important. Celebrate today (Sunday), tomorrow, and Tuesday start working for next season, because this club and players deserve more titles.
“Now we have won the title, we are going to have a balanced review of the whole year: the positive things, the negative things, where we can improve our squad. We must continue thinking as a big team.
“It was a beautiful, great season, but we always need to continue winning, continue improving and of course we are going to start working as soon as possible to be the strongest team next year.”
Despite the looming threat of Financial Fair Play sanctions from Uefa, the new champions’ financial clout means they are capable of becoming the dominant force in English football in the coming seasons.
To that end, Pellegrini and his entire staff and squad were scheduled to fly to Abu Dhabi on Monday for an end-of-season break, during which he will hold meetings with Sheikh Mansour.
“I don’t think this is the start of something because this club has been working very well for the past four years,” said Pellegrini.
“Before then, this was a big club with fans, but not a team that could fight for the title. The last four years, this has changed.”
Pellegrini has been widely praised for his level-headed approach to management, which is in stark contrast to that of combustible coaches such as his predecessor Roberto Mancini or Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho. — AFP.
Online Reporter