English Premier League: Pellegrini faces striking dilemma

Manchester City begin campaign against Newcastle tonight.

MANCHESTER:

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini admits he will need all his forward options to deliver trophies as he prepares for his first taste of the Premier League against Newcastle tonight.

Pellegrini, who replaced Roberto Mancini following the Italian’s dismissal at the end of last season’s trophy-less campaign, lost Carlos Tevez to Juventus in this transfer window, but has added Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic to his attacking options alongside Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko.

Now the Chilean faces his first striking dilemma as he debates who will start up front in his opening competitive match in charge at Eastlands.

Champions Manchester United threw down the gauntlet to City with a 4-1 win over Swansea in David Moyes’ first match on Saturday and Pellegrini can ill-afford a slow start to life in England.

City, who surrendered the title to United in tame fashion last season, have not lost an opening-day Premier League game since a defeat by Aston Villa in 2008 and Pellegrini’s frontmen will be expected to continue that run against Newcastle.

“I do not know my team yet because on Thursday all the players that played for their national squad arrived back. I am not 100 percent sure,” said Pellegrini. “We have four important strikers, that is why they are here in this squad as we want them for the whole season. I do not worry who plays on Monday [tonight] or next Sunday. We have four strikers because I think we need four strikers. We will see who is the best for each match.”

Soldado gives Spurs win

New signing Roberto Soldado proved there is life without Gareth Bale by giving Tottenham Hotspur a 1-0 win at promoted Crystal Palace in their Premier League opener yesterday.

The breakthrough arrived five minutes into the second half, with Soldado adroitly sending Speroni the wrong way from 12 yards after Dean Moxey blocked Lennon’s cross with a flailing hand.

In the other match, Jose Mourinho marked his return to Chelsea with a 2-0 win over Hull City at Stamford Bridge. Oscar and Frank Lampard were the goalscorers.

Results

Arsenal             1-3 Aston Villa

Liverpool          1-0 Stoke

Norwich           2-2 Everton

Sunderland      0-1   Fulham

West Brom      0-1   Southampton

West Ham       2-0   Cardiff

Swansea          1-4 Man Utd

Palace              1-0 Tottenham

Chelsea            2-0    Hull City

Published in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2013.

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