EPL: Man City 90 minutes away from title
will become Premier League champions after
beating Aston Villa 4-0.
It took City until the 64th minute to break the
deadlock at the Etihad Stadium but they ran
out convincing winners as Edin Dzeko struck
twice and then Stevan Jovetic and Yaya Toure
netted late on.
The result leaves City two points ahead of
Liverpool ahead of their final game of the
season, against West Ham United on Sunday,
and a draw will be enough due to their
superior goal difference.
While he is refusing to get carried away,
Pellegrini is now allowing himself to think
about winning the title.
He said: "Now we can talk about the title
because if we win the next game we are going
to win the title.
"We could not do the same before this game
because we had to beat Aston Villa.
"Of course I expect to win the title because
now we are top of the table.
"It has been a strange season maybe because
we were never top of the table.
"Everyone said we were favourites but we
were nine points behind Liverpool and eight
points behind Chelsea.
"We had three games in hand but we must win
all those games. Now we are top of the table
and I hope we are not going to lose next
Sunday."
Pellegrini says that he urged his men at half-
time to keep their patience and not become
frustrated at having to play against a
defensive-minded Villa side.
"It was a very big test because it was not an
easy game. We know that we had to win and I
think the team played very, very well," he told
Sky Sports.
"We were very patient in the first half. They
had just one chance to score.
"It is not easy to play against a team with 10
defenders but I spoke to the players and told
them to continue the way they were going
because I thought we were doing very well.
"I was absolutely sure that we were going to
score and now we have to win our last game
to win the title."
City needed two late goals against Queens
Park Rangers to clinch the title in 2012 but
Pellegrini is hopeful that his side will not
endure quite such an anxious afternoon
against West Ham before becoming
champions.
He is aware that no opponent can be taken for
granted but says it is a very different
situation.
"I didn't see the game. It was another team
playing another way so I don't think about
that," he explained.
"QPR against Manchester City or Crystal
Palace against Liverpool, with so many years
in football you know that every game counts
and every team can win any game.
"I think that now it is another team and
another way of managing the team."
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