Manuel Pellegrini tells Edin Dzeko to show City he is the real deal this season
"I told him that if he will stay here this year he must demonstrate the player that Manchester City bought two years ago,” says City boss
Prove yourself: Pellegrini has issued a challenge to Edin Dzeko
Manuel Pellegrini has told Edin Dzeko he must prove himself the player Manchester City thought they signed.
The new City manager has put his trust in the striker seemingly discarded by Roberto Mancini and was rewarded with a man of the match performance in the 4-0 demolition of Newcastle. But Pellegrini takes his side to Cardiff today demanding more of the Bosnian bought from Wolfsburg for £27m two and a half years ago.
Pellegrini said: “Dzeko played well against Newcastle, but not very, very well because for all the things he did he must score. Then he will have played very well indeed. He had bad luck. Of course I have no doubt he will score goals. He has scored goals through his whole career.
“I spoke with him before I arrived here and told him that if he will stay here this year he must demonstrate the player that Manchester City bought two years ago .”
Dzeko was widely expected to be sold by City at the end of last season, but Pellegrini credits the whole squad for helping restore his confidence and form.
The Chilean said: “Dzeko and a lot of players interest a lot of clubs. It’s very important for him to know that all of us trust him, not only me but also the other players, the club, everybody.
“I don’t expect a certain number of goals. The first thing is that the team wins. If the team wins, who scores is not the most important thing.
“Normally the striker will always be scoring, but in my team, normally all the players score goals. That’s very important.
“I don’t want to talk about last season. It’s not my duty. I know what I must do. My duty is to talk with all the players, not just one or two. They must know what I want of them and they must know that they are here in this squad because I trust them.”
Manuel Pellegrini wants to let his team's football do the talking
Mancini’s man-management style ruffled feathers at Eastlands, but Pellegrini appears intent on a low-key, if firm approach to the job.
He shunned the now familiar pitch centre introduction to the City fans on the opening day of the Premier League, maintaining results rather than gestures are what count.
“The best way for me to introduce myself is the way the team played,’ he said. “That is the way I want. Nobody suggested I should go to the centre circle. I wouldn’t do that. It’s not me.”
Pellegrini is almost as adamant that the touchline confrontation with an opposite number is not for him.
He said: “I hope not. You never know what happens in a match when the blood is up. You can stress. But I hope not.”