No regrets after defeat to Southampton for all-change Pellegrini as Manchester City eye Real Madrid
City boss insists he has no regrets about making eight changes to his side ahead of this week’s trip to face Real in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final
Manuel Pellegrini insisted he had no regrets about making eight changes to his Manchester City side ahead of this week’s trip to face Real Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final.
We knew before the game it was a risk to put so many players without football against a difficult team but we have to take those risks because we have an important game on Wednesday
The City manager admitted his team’s 4-2 defeat against Southampton at St Mary’s stadium could affect confidence as the Premier League club prepare for the visit to the Bernabeu Stadium.
But Pellegrini, who was frustrated Sunday’s meeting with Southampton was not moved to Friday or Saturday to give his side more time to prepare, insisted he had no choice but to make wholesale changes and protect his key players.
“We knew before the game it was a risk to put so many players without football against a difficult team but we have to take those risks because we have an important game on Wednesday,” he said.
“Maybe if we had played on Saturday we could put more players but it was a risk similar to the FA Cup that we had to play.
“We continue in the Premier League what we are going to do in the next two games to be in the top four so that was a risk but one we also had to take.
“I always say the best way to prepare the next game is to win and that’s why we did so well before Paris Saint Germain and Real Madrid, we won our games before in the Premier League.