The Champions League has confounded City far too often for a club of such talents, but they were quite brilliant against Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium. “We know we’re going up against a team that plays very well”, the Chilean said.
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“I changed the system because I was not happy with the way we were playing, but I am happy with the way we played today and with the way the three midfielders played and with two forwards”, Pellegrini told BT Sport.
Goals from Raheem Sterling and Fernandinho in a blistering 11-minute spell after kick-off put City on course and Wilfried Bony secured an impressive win after Sevilla pulled one back in a brief rally.
Sevilla coach Unai Emery said: “The team gave their best, we had chances”.
Pellegrini said: “I’m happy with the way we played, we scored three goals, missed three of four clear chances to score and we defended well”.
A performance such as the one last time against Sevilla might not be enough this time, and City would have liked their game at home to Norwich City at weekend not to have proved as stressful as it turned out.
City fans boo in protest at the treatment of Yaya Toure after he was racially abused by CSKA Moscow supporters. Sevilla were denied a deserved point away to City two weeks ago as Kevin de Bruyne’s injury time victor handed the English side a 2-1 win.
City now have games against Borussia Monchengladbach and Juventus left in their group to try and finish top of Group D. They’re currently sat in first position on nine points having beaten Sevilla twice and Monchengladbach once. “It is a huge challenge, similar to that when we played Barcelona for the calibre of the opponent, the leaders of the Premier League, and it will take our best to overcome them”.
City now have to turn their attention to the Premier League and Saturday’s game against Aston Villa.
“We don’t really look to make big statements – we look to win our games and build on what we’re doing”.
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“It’s a hard group and so for us to qualify with two games spare is an incredible achievement”, said the City skipper. “We are first in the table now, so we just have to continue like that”.
