The battle to be crowned Premier League champions in 2014 has something of the Wacky Races about it this season and Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says four teams are in with a shout.
After Yaya Toure netted a hat-trick in Saturday’s 5-0 win over Fulham, “good preparation” in Pellegrini’s eyes for Tuesday’s Manchester derby against title holders United, City stayed six points behind leaders Chelsea though with three games in hand.
Fernandinho and Martin Demichelis also found the back of the net as City carved apart their lowly opponents in routine fashion. Regaining the title they won in 2012 will not be so simple.
“I don’t think it’s just between City and Chelsea – we must see what Liverpool are doing every week,” said Pellegrini, after Liverpool had put six past Cardiff to become the first top flight side to pass 80 goals this season.
“Maybe Arsenal had a bad game but they’re still only seven points behind Chelsea – I think all four teams have the same chance to win the title.
“There are a lot of points left to decide the title for all of the teams.”
The Blues have not conceded a goal in their last four league matches, ideal for their confidence ahead of tomorrow’s crunch match.
But it was the clinical way City beat Fulham, with Toure back in the goals, that most pleased Pellegrini.
“Winning is always a good preparation for the next match. The derby is a special match so tomorrow we must try to forget about today and start thinking about Old Trafford,” he said.
“It was a complete performance because again we kept a clean sheet and that’s very important.
“We made some changes towards the end of the game, thinking about what we must do on Tuesday against Manchester United but before the match we were only thinking about this one.”
United won 2-0 at West Ham United on Saturday courtesy of a Wayne Rooney double including a wonder strike, but are still way off the pace in seventh place, 18 points behind Chelsea.
Main image courtesy of Manchester City FC via YouTube, with thanks.
