Pellegrini: Barca didn’t want us

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini believes Barcelona did not want to draw his team in last 16 of the Champions League.

On the other hand, the Chilean confessed his side did not want to come out of the hat alongside Barca either.

“Barca are tough opponents and you don’t really know which way round it is, whether it will be tougher for them or us,” said Pellegrini at an AS awards ceremony.

“Games have to be played on the pitch. Maybe we wouldn’t have wanted Barca and they wouldn’t have wanted us either.

“But the draw has been made and now it’s time for us to start playing well.”

The former Real Madrid, Villarreal and Malaga boss acknowledged his team had struggled to qualify from the group stages.

“It’s true we were in a very tough group, with the champions of Germany, England and Russia and the second from Italy.

“We didn’t start well and I think there were a couple of games where we struggled, especially CSKA Moscow, but eventually we qualified.”

Pellegrini says he had no doubts about going to England when he was offered the City job.

“It’s a different experience after I’d spent a long time in Spain. I was with three different clubs and I’ve got some incredible memories, but it’s also important to discover a new League.

“I had an offer from Manchester City and unfortunately the project at Malaga was unable to continue.

“I didn’t have any doubts because City is a big club with big prospects,” he explained.

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