Manchester City challenged to be top for New Year by boss Manuel Pellegrini
Manuel Pellegrini has set his Manchester City stars a target of being Premier League leaders at Christmas time.And the Blues' first-year boss has told them bluntly they must sort out their horrific away form if they are to achieve the goal he is demanding.
City swept aside Swansea, 3-0 to maintain their 100 per cent home record in the Premier League... and take their goals tally in just seven matches to a staggering 29.
That is the best for more than a century at this stage of a top-flight season.
Even Swans boss Michael Laudrup was forced to admit that, on home form at least, the Blues are miles ahead of their rivals.
But
Pellegrini knows his side have bordered on the feeble away from home,
with just one win and a record that would condemn them to a relegation
scrap.And now he has challenged his big-money stars to repeat their swaggering home form in the two away games, against West Brom and Southampton, they face in the next seven days... and prove they can make up the six points between them and current leaders Arsenal.
"Yes, I have told the players that I would like to arrive at the New Year in first place, but I will tell you after this coming week is over if we can achieve that," he explained.
"We have two very difficult away games and we will know more after those. I was very pleased because we beat a strong team in Swansea, but West Brom away [on Wednesday] is the tough challenge.
"We hope now we can start winning away from home - we have to do that - but I have a lot of trust in this team, and I believe we have deserved to win some away games we have lost."
City, who entertain the Gunners on December 14, were catapulted into third place with two goals from a rejuvenated Samir Nasir and one by Alvaro Negredo.
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