• Premier League

City's titles mean nothing next season - Pellegrini

ESPN staff
May 21, 2014
Manuel Pellegrini won the Premier League and League Cup in his debut season in England © Getty Images
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Manuel Pellegrini has warned Manchester City that becoming Premier League champions will count for nothing next season as he looks to top his achievements in his debut campaign at the Etihad Stadium.

With Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak reinforcing the need for the results in Europe to match the world-class infrastructure he has put in place at the Etihad, Pellegrini's "ambitious mind" will be tested once more after the summer.

The Chilean finished a successful first year in England with City having won both the League Cup and the Premier League but revealed he hopes to take City into the last eight of the Champions League for the first time.

Pellegrini, who is considering making changes to his squad in a bid to ensure they improve again, is conducting a thorough assessment of their season as he looks for areas where they can progress.

City are interested in the Porto pair of Eliaquim Mangala and Fernando and Arsenal's out-of-contract right-back Bacary Sagna and Pellegrini said is pondering additions to his squad.

"Maybe," he told the club's official website. "We are going to see which is the best way to improve. I think one of the most important things for me is to have an ambitious mind.

"It is very important to win the title but these two titles will not be useful the next year. We must analyse all the good things we did, all the bad things, where we must improve and which is the best way to do it. We have a lot of work."

Pellegrini took City into the knockout stages of the Champions League and, though they were beaten by Barcelona in the last 16, is aiming to reach the quarter-finals next season.

He added: "It was the first time we qualified for the round of 16. We made a very good group stage. We beat Bayern Munich in their own stadium and we had the same number of points with Bayern so I think it was an important step and next year I hope we can continue another stage more."

Pellegrini is looking forward to a summer break but said he cannot switch off altogether as he plans for next season.

He explained: "When you win the title it is very easy to enjoy the holiday. Part of my holiday will be in Spain and the other part in Chile. I will go also to see some games of the World Cup in Brazil, but it is very difficult to disconnect absolutely. You cannot do it."

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