• Premier League

Pellegrini: City will beat United for fans

Manuel Pellegrini has vowed to bring an attacking brand of football to Manchester City and win over the fans by beating Manchester United.

The Chilean has made improving City's poor Champions League record a priority but knows he can make the supporters happy by overcoming their local rivals.

He said: "I know that the most important thing for all the fans is to beat Manchester United and if I am here it is because I am sure we will do it."

Pellegrini has never lost in four games against United, which all finished in 0-0 draws, and in the 2005-06 season Sir Alex Ferguson's team were knocked out of the Champions League in the group stages while Pellegrini's Villarreal went on to reach the semi-finals.

"I played against Manchester United twice in the Champions League with Villarreal. In both years we got to the last 16," he added.

Pellegrini took Malaga to the last eight of the Champions League last season whereas City, for the second successive year, failed to progress from the group.

He added: "I know the last two years of Man City was not very good playing in the Champions League. We know we have to improve in the future."

Pellegrini has promised to rebrand City as an entertaining side after Mancini's team struggled for goals last season.

He explained: "One of the important things because I am here is the way my other teams always played. I think fans of Manchester City will see a different way to they play in the other years.

"I am sure we are going to play an attractive game. We will always try to play in the opposition's half, being an attacking team, doing what all the other teams I worked with before did."

Pellegrini said chief executive Ferran Soriano and sporting director Txiki Begiristain were reasons he took the job at the Etihad Stadium along with the loyalty of the supporters who backed the club when they were in League One in 1998-99.

He said: "First of all because I know the persons who work here, Txiki and Ferran they know how I work and that was very important for me. The second reason, I think we have a really good squad.

"The third reason was the fans. This club has incredible fans, playing in the Premier League or the third division, the fans are always together with the team."

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