Manuel Pellegrini wants everybody to think in terms of winning today against Manchester City rather than “getting a good result” and hopes the rest of us do to.
Discussing the toughest challenge of the season the manager was in buoyant mood saying: “We will certainly be positive. I prefer teams that start the game thinking to win it and not just to have a good result, no matter who you’re playing.
“That’s why I try to put creative and technical players in the starting line-up and I think that we are improving a lot.”
Speaking to www.whufc.com he said: “We return to action feeling fresh and confident after the two-week international break, which followed a run of three Premier League matches without defeat..
“Manchester City is obviously a club that I know very well and have great respect for, although Saturday will be the first time that I have managed against them!
“City are obviously a top team playing very well at this moment, but I hope that we can be competitive and continue our good run of form at London Stadium.
“At the end of the season this team will be in a better position that it is at the moment and we will always think with a winning mentality to get as high in the table as we can.”
“Four points from our last two matches is a positive return and the players have all worked very well during the international break,” the manager observed.
“We took a squad to Brentford for a friendly match and it was a very worthwhile exercise for the players who haven’t played many minutes recently, the likes of Angelo Ogbonna and Javier Hernandez, plus Mark Noble who has been suspended and Andy Carroll, who has returned after injury.
“It was good to see Andy play 45 minutes without any problems and he is always a player who, when he comes on the pitch, gives different things, so I hope he can stay fit from now until the end of the season. He is always an important option.”
ClaretandHugh says: These are good words from the boss! Maybe they are to be expected by and large but they are much needed regardless. We have all approached – and probably still are – this fixture having mentally written it off but we shouldn’t and to be reminded that a 2-1 or 1-0 defeat isn’t regarded as successful or that it may represent a decent result is totally necessary. We can’t carry any negative feelings into the stadium this afternoon. We need to be absolutely 100 per cent positive from the start because there is no doubt that our attitude does get felt by the players and positivity therefore is what it is all about. The games against Man U, Chelsea and Spurs (though beaten) showed how good we can be against the top team and how it brings the best out of us. Let’s allow our hearts to dictate not our heads. Everything is possible