Manuel Pellegrini insists he is having no problems motivating his Manchester City players.
Pellegrini’s side have lost three of their four games since it was announced he would be leaving at the end of the season to make way for Pep Guardiola.
Sunday’s 5-1 FA Cup defeat at Chelsea should be viewed in a different context because City fielded an under-strength side but the previous two losses to Leicester and Tottenham were damaging to Premier League title hopes.
City now need to pick themselves up as their Champions League challenge resumes with the first leg of their last-16 tie at Dynamo Kiev.
Speaking in the Ukrainian capital, Pellegrini said: “No, really that is not a problem. All the players from the start, they are just thinking in this season – that we have important challenges from now until the end of the year, and the best way is to be focused in every game.
“Now it is the Champions League, after that we have the (League Cup) final at Wembley on Sunday, and on Wednesday we will return to the Premier League.
Pictures from training ahead of facing @DynamoKyiv tomorrow evening! ⚽
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) February 23, 2016
Photo time: https://t.co/rgED2cG3Xt #mcfc pic.twitter.com/TuQxOjWIW3
“So it’s very easy because we are focused on having a season that works this year.”
Pellegrini has received heavy criticism for the side he selected at Stamford Bridge, which featured six teenagers and five players making their full debut, but he has no regrets.
He said: “Unfortunately for us, we have to make a difficult decision against Chelsea, but it was the only clear decision we had to make in this moment. If we had a completely fit squad, then a lot more experienced players could have played that game, but that was not the case. We had to take a chance but this (Champions League) is absolutely different.”
As senior stars return, Pellegrini hopes his side soon slip back into gear against a side that has not played competitively since December 9.
He said: “The important thing for our players is to have a good performance, we know it’s 180 minutes – it’s just the first leg – so we know it’s the performance is important.”
The game at Kiev’s Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex will take place in front of a full crowd after sanctions ordering the game to be played behind closed doors were lifted.
Kiev were initially ordered to play two games at a closed stadium, for offences including the racist behaviour of fans, but successfully appealed against the severity of the ruling, meaning supporters can now attend.
Pellegrini said: “One of the worst things you can do is play in an empty stadium without fans. In this case, fans of Kiev have a lesson about what happened.
“For me, I know maybe for the home team it’s not advantage to play without fans, but for football it’s important. I hope in this case it will be a lesson for these fans and tomorrow we have a normal game.”
Central to Dynamo’s hopes of beating the Premier League side will be winger Andriy Yarmolenko who has admitted he sees this game as a chance to put himself in the shop window.
Yarmolenko rejected move to China which would see him earn more than A. Teixeira - €12 million euros.
— FutbolUkraine (@FutbolUkraine) February 18, 2016
Pure class. pic.twitter.com/G01P6ip4Ti
Yarmolenko has forever been linked with a move west after emerging in the Dynamo side aged 18 and going on to become a regular for club and country.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton have all maintained interest in the Ukraine international who, at the age of 26, may now feel the time is right to make the plunge and sign for a club in one of Europe’s more high-profile leagues.
He said, “I would certainly like to prove myself at the highest level. I watch the Premier League and La Liga regularly as they are the best leagues in Europe in my opinion. Although I have to say that English football holds the biggest attraction for me.
“Playing for such big crowds is what every player dreams about. I would like to do that week in and week out. It would be great to step into a stadium like that every three or four days.”
