Videos Live Scores Podcasts Opinion Interviews Business of Sport Inside Story Football Cricket Tennis Formula One Golf NBA UFC UAE Racquet Sports Fitness

Manuel Pellegrini in need of trophies after signing new Manchester City contract

Andy Hampson

09:03 08/08/2015

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini admits he has to deliver titles after signing a new two-year contract at the Etihad Stadium.

The Chilean was entering the final year of his previous deal but has now agreed an extension to 2017 in a move that could quell speculation linking Bayern Munich’s Pep Guardiola with his position.

Guardiola, out of contract next summer, is long thought to have been a target for City having previously worked under the club’s chief executive Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain at Barcelona.

Pellegrini won the Premier League in his first season at City in 2013 but, after last year’s disappointing campaign, he accepts improvement is necessary.

The 61-year-old said: “It is very important for the club to trust in our work. I am very happy here at Manchester City so if both parties are happy we can continue. The support the club gives me is important. But you know in this profession you need results, so it is very important for me to have a good season and get good results.

“For me a good season with a big team is that you must win a title (trophy). You cannot say it is a very good season if you win nothing.”

– EPL: Team guide – Arsenal to Man U
– #360Fans: UAE supporters’ clubs guide
– VIDEO: LVG talks David de Gea signing rumours

Speculation over Pellegrini’s future was rife towards the end of last season as it became apparent the club would not catch Chelsea in the Premier League and they went out of the Champions League.

It eased as City ended with six successive wins but could return if the team again perform below par. Pellegrini accepts this but insists it will not bother him.

Pellegrini, whose side meet West Brom on Monday, said: “I was used last season to the speculation. I’m not talking about Pep Guardiola. He is a manager that every team will want to manage them because he is a great manager.

“Maybe he is linked with this team more because of the relation- ship with Txiki and Ferran but I trust them and I’m sure if they want to bring in him, they will tell me. I have no problem with my relations inside the club. I know exactly how the owners think.”

More from european

From Morocco to Abu Dhabi: Zakaria El Jamari’s incredible martial arts journey

French-Algerian Anissa Meksen gets chance to be first to claim new ONE Championship gold

Adrian Lee’s ONE Championship debut confirmed as he looks to further family legacy

NBA 3X ABU DHABI an unparalleled success with legends LaMarcus Aldridge and James Worthy in attendance

ONE Friday Fights 59: French-Algerian looks to maintain KO momentum in headliner

New ONE Championship king Alexis Nicolas ready to fight ‘the world’

Most Popular