Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini discusses Diego Costa’s three-match suspension…
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has backed Chelsea striker Diego Costa to improve his discipline after receiving a three-game ban for stamping on Liverpool duo Emre Can and Martin Skrtel.
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“I think he is a very good player, a very important player,” said Pellegrini, who was quoted by the Daily Mirror ahead of his side’s crucial trip to Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening.
“Maybe he is not an easy character, but I hope with this punishment that it will be a good thing for him for him to change a little bit in the future. He does not need to do that kind of thing because he is a top player.”
Costa’s suspension begins this weekend after his appeal against the ban was rejected. Chelsea will have to do without the Spanish international as they attempt to move eight points clear of City, and Pellegrini knows just how important the game will be.
“It’s a very important game,” he admitted. “[It’s] Not the game that will decide the title, because after that we have 45 points more to play for.”
“Some years ago we saw that when this club won the title when they were eight points behind Manchester United [with six games to go]. But it is an important game and it’s important for us to close that gap.”
City have not won any of their last three games, but their boss remains confident of getting a result.
“I don’t feel pressure, never. The only pressure I feel in my whole career is from myself, to do the best job I can,” he finished.
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