Manuel Pellegrini fears Manchester City’s injury woes could derail their season as the continued fight on four fronts leaves them with huge fixture pile-up.
Title-favourites City moved top at the end of January after going 20 games unbeaten but have only picked up one point from two consecutive matches since, with the goals also drying up.
With key cup ties at home to Chelsea – who have done the league double over them – and Barcelona fast approaching, Pellegrini has been left sweating over key players’ fitness.
“I was concerned before the last match against Chelsea,” said Pellegrini after Saturday’s frustrating 0-0 draw at Norwich,” Pellegrini said.
“It is not normal to have five players injured for an important game, and two or three more players were not 100 per cent.
“I was concerned also about this match and we also have a very difficult week coming up because we have three competitions to play in.”
The Citizens showed little evidence at Carrow Road of the firepower that has seen them score 115 goals this season and are now two points off the pace in third.
They are already without star men such as Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho and may now face losing Yaya Toure to retrospective punishment for kicking Canaries striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel.
Pellegrini however accepted that a lean patch may have been overdue and issued a rallying cry to his troops to find their scoring boots again as quickly as possible.
“To score goals is always the most difficult thing in football,” the Chilean added.
“We must continue. We are right behind the leaders Chelsea. We have 39 points more to fight for and this team were favourites to win the title with the way we were playing.”
Image courtesy of MCTV, via YouTube with thanks.
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