CHELSEA NOT A ONE-MAN BAND - PELLEGRINI

CHELSEA NOT A ONE-MAN BAND - PELLEGRINI

Chelsea's in-form striker Diego
Costa will be a threat but the
Premier League leaders are more
than a one-man band, champions
Manchester City's manager Manuel
Pellegrini said on Friday.

City host table-toppers Chelsea at the Etihad
Stadium on Sunday after a slow start to their
defence of the Premier League title while Jose
Mourinho's team have made a rip-roaring start,
winning all four matches.

Much of Chelsea's early season success has been
down to Costa, who has scored seven goals in four
league appearances, but Pellegrini says the west
Londoners are not reliant on only the Spanish
striker.

"I don't think Chelsea are just about Diego Costa,"
the Chilean told a news conference. "They have
very good players and we will have to play a very
good game if we want to win.

"They have started very well and they are playing
very well. They have increased their squad with
better players so for me, it is no surprise they are
there."

City will be without striker Stevan Jovetic and
Brazilian midfielder Fernando for the visit of
Chelsea, but strikers Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero
should be fit while former Chelsea midfielder Frank
Lampard, the club's all-time top scorer, is expected
to start on the bench.

Having collected seven points from their first four
games this season, City trail Chelsea by five points
and Pellegrini does not want to see them slip
further behind.

"It is very important to win on Sunday, but there is
a long way until the end of the season," he said.
"This is just the fifth game and we have to play 38,
so we will see what happens in the future."

Pellegrini defended midfielder Yaya Toure after the
powerful Ivorian was criticised for his defensive
performance during Wednesday's Champions
League defeat at Bayern Munich.

"It is not fair for me to criticise what Yaya did in the
last game," Pellegrini said. "In this team - at least in
my way of thinking - when we win or lose it is
because all the team did well or did bad.
"I don't agree that Yaya has all the responsibility
about the game we played. Yaya always has
commitment with the team, the squad and with his
teammates. He does not have a problem."