• Premier League

Pellegrini still wary of Manchester United

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini said he has not forgotten neighbours Manchester United in the race for the Premier League title.

City have so far eclipsed their bitter rivals, sitting five spots and 10 points better than the Red Devils near the halfway mark of the competition.

But despite the Old Trafford club's problems this season, Pellegrini believes United will continue "fighting to the end".

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"The major rivals are the teams that are very near. Arsenal sit top, one point on top of us and Chelsea is one point behind," Pellegrini said.

"But we are absolutely sure Manchester United will continue fighting to the end, because they are used to doing it, and Liverpool and Everton are teams that will continue fighting to the end.

"They play very well, both teams, so maybe five or six teams can fight for the title."

Manchester City are in impressive form this season, sitting second in the Premier League and with the chance of claiming a host of silverware, including the Champions League.

But Pellegrini said that his squad must continue to build on their current form if they are to avoid any lapses of concentration.

"It is going very well of course, we are in a very good moment," Pellegrini continued. "But we are just in the middle of the season, we are just preparing for a good [end to the] season.

"We have very important games in the games in the coming days because all the games are knockout, except Premier League, which will be a very close until the end of the year.

"We must win here against Blackburn Rovers or we are out of the FA Cup. Maybe in the League Cup we have made a big step towards the final but in February we start again in the Champions League.

"It is very important to continue and to understand we must continue in the same way."

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