Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is proud to be able to bring the club’s Premier League title winning party to the UAE during their post-season tour.
The Abu Dhabi-owned side secured their second championship in three years last weekend with a 2-0 win against West Ham United.
The Etihad outfit enjoyed a joyous procession through the packed streets of Manchester in the aftermath, then arrived in the Emirates on Tuesday.
They play an Al Ain selection today (Thursday) in front of a sold out Hazza bin Zayed crowd, before departing the following day.
And for City manager Pellegrini, it is exciting to continue the celebrations in the homeland of the club’s owners before planning another successful campaign over the summer break.
“During this week we are celebrating in Abu Dhabi what we did last season,” the Chilean said at a packed press conference at Al Jazira’s Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. “It was very important to win the title, but next week we start working in what ways we can improve.
“That is very important for this team, to try and improve every year. We will see what is the best way to try and continue winning the Premier League and cups in England, and also we will try to have better performances in Europe.”
The City players took part in a training session last night in front of a buoyant 3,000 strong crowd full of exuberant children, screaming the names of their favourite players.
The stars did not disappoint,kicking footballs into the stands and signing autographs when they had finished.
England international Joe Hart and centre-back Joleon Lescott sat out the exercises, while Spain’s World Cup playmaker David Silva trained on his own.
The friendly with Al Ain was originally planned for January to celebrate the Hazza’s opening, before City’s FA Cup third-round replay with Blackburn caused the trip to be postponed.
Many of City’s elite squad will be travelling to the World Cup next month, such as Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero and David Silva, with the
participant nations beginning their training camps next week.
Pellegrini said it would be “very difficult” to select those stars against the Boss with the impending tournament in mind. The 60-year-old added: “All the players that are in the national squad, it is a risk for all of them.
“They were very happy to come here to Abu Dhabi but tomorrow I will ask them if they want to play but I suspect it will be very difficult.”
Pellegrini has enjoyed a golden debut campaign in charge, crafting an entertaining side, scoring 102 goals on their way to the title, while also winning the League Cup.
Pellegrini believes the re-arrangement of the friendly from the new year was a positive thing, as the club were able to show off both pieces of silverware from a hugelysuccessful season.
He said: “It would have been good to come in January, but it is better to come now with the two titles. Especially, after winning the Premier League on Sunday.
“We have a lot of fans here in Emirates, and the owners are from Emirates, that is why the whole squad is here and we are very happy.”
