• Manchester City 3-1 Sunderland, League Cup

Pellegrini targets quadruple

ESPN staff
March 2, 2014
ESPN FC evaluate Manchester City's League Cup victory


Manuel Pellegrini believes Manchester City's 3-1 League Cup final win over Sunderland may be crucial in their unique attempt to win the quadruple.

After lifting his first major trophy since moving to Europe, the Chilean says it was vital to win their first piece of silverware on Sunday to set the right tone.

"Of course it gives us a lot of confidence to us because when you have a chance to win a title, if you don't do it, maybe your mind stays the same way," Pellegrini said.

"We are the only club that has the chance to continue trying to win all the competitions. If you have a chance to win the first you must do it.

City's silver platform for success

Pellegrini lifts his first major trophy in European football © PA Photos
  • Manuel Pellegrini's side has class on their side at Wembley; now they can use the League Cup to propel them to success on a more consistent basis than they've ever had, writes Miguel Delaney.
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"For such a big team, club as Manchester City, to fail for the second time is not good. They failed last year but today i think they was very important to win."

The City boss also said that last year's FA Cup defeat to Wigan was on the squad's mind at half-time as they came from 1-0 down to beat the Black Cats.

"It was important for players to be calm and patient and trust themselves, maybe what happened last year in the final was in their minds in the first half but I think that the most important thing was to calm the players and trust in them."

The victory represented Pellegrini's first trophy in Europe, but the City manager never felt it was as much of an issue as others made out to be.

"I didn't feel that I need so much a trophy," he continued. "For me it's very important to win a trophy, but it's also important for me to be in Europe for 10 years, and if you are trying to win trophies in clubs that it is possible to do it, I was very happy with my five years in Villarreal, three in Malaga."

Pellegrini also insists the club would not rest on one trophy, and are intent on winning more, with the next step an FA Cup rematch with Wigan next Sunday.

"We are going to try. We know it's not easy, we have respect for Wigan, we remember what happened last year," he added.

"I think that we are going to evaluate the season when it ends in May. We want to take just one trophy but I don't think that no one can think that that is enough. Why?

"We have to win Wigan next Sunday, then [it's a] Wembley semi-final, but if we didn't win it we must have a good evaluation about what we are doing that is wrong, and where we can improve.

"But I don't think for top players or important clubs, you are satisfied with one trophy."

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