New coach Pellegrini promises attacking style for City

Manchester City's new manager Manuel Pellegrini promised a more attacking brand of soccer and pointed to his experience of outfoxing local rivals Manchester United as he pledged yesterday to win trophies.

At his first news conference since taking over from Italian Roberto Mancini, Pellegrini said he aimed to improve City's poor Champions League record but reclaiming the Premier League title they won in 2012 or FA Cup they lifted in 2011 was as important.

Expectations are high at trophy-hungry City, where runners-up places in the Premier League and FA Cup were deemed to be unacceptable last season, and chief executive Ferran Soriano has said the target is five trophies in the next five years.

"Just five?" joked Pellegrini. "We'll try to work and we'll do our best here and see how many trophies we can win."

City finished 11 points behind champions United last season, also suffering a second successive Champions League group-stage exit.

"I know the most important thing... is for Manchester City to beat Manchester United. If I'm here it's because I'm sure we will do it," said the 59-year-old Chilean, who joined the club last month on a three-year deal after the sacking of Mancini.