Both teams are in vital need of the points for their respective causes as City pursue Chelsea at the top of the table and the Clarets aim for an unlikely survival campaign
Browsing: Manuel Pellegrini
Everton head into Saturday’s clash at Goodison Park looking to arrest a run of four straight league defeats that has seen them drop to 13th on the table
Pellegrini’s side are currently riding the crest of a wave, however, after a 3-2 victory over Sunderland on New Year’s Day moved them level with Premier League leaders Chelsea
Sunderland’s efforts in holding Chelsea to a 0-0 draw on Saturday, combined with a win for City at Southampton the following day, cut the gap between the two to six points
Manchester City manager, Manuel Pellegrini, confirmed the deal after the club’s International Challenge Cup defeat on penalties against Olympiakos at the University of Minnesota
It’s very important. Celebrate today, tomorrow and Monday and on Tuesday start working for next season because this club and players deserve more titles
The match Pellegrini referred to was a quarter-final two years ago at San Siro between Barcelona and Milan that ended goalless, with the former coach, Pep Guardiola, complaining about two penalties Eriksson failed to award his side
The victory took City to the top of the Premier League while Newcastle suffered a somewhat harsh fourth successive defeat, but Pellegrini’s pleasure was dampened by a serious knee injury sustained by Samir Nasri following a nasty tackle from Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa
He said: “We have to play against Crystal Palace in less than 48 hours while (leaders) Arsenal have a tough game against Newcastle
Pellegrini is currently on a family holiday with the deal having taken longer than expected to be confirmed