Manchester City not where they should be at yearend, says Hart

Manuel Pellegrini has revealed that Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany will be out of action for another month with a calf problem again.

Owing to the injuries, the 29-year-old has missed 10 English football league games and City have not kept a clean sheet in any of it except the goalless draw against Leicester City on Tuesday night.

But Manchester City are now without a win in six away games in the Premier League – a record that has prevented them building fully on their flying start to the season.

“We came for three points, had more possession, more attempts, did more things to win the game”, said Pellegrini.

He said: “I think we are returning to a very solid and consistent team, which is important”.

Leicester City, coming off only their second loss of the season, a 0-1 away defeat to Liverpool on Boxing Day, looked impressive, containing the offensive firepower of Manchester City, who now sit in third place with 36 points.

“I am not a doctor but normally with a muscle injury less than three or four weeks is very hard, especially on the calf”.

Pellegrini however is happy they are in a position to make a title charge in the second half of the season.

City were tipped to run away with the title when they won their opening five games of the season without conceding a goal but they go into the second half of the season three points behind Arsenal and Leicester, having lost five times.

“We didn’t win at Arsenal but I don’t think we played a bad game”.

“But when you play 19 games, half of the season, and they are continue to play in a good way, it is because they have important players in a good moment, putting in a high-level of performance, and with managers who are doing their jobs very well”. “But I think we are in the correct way”.

Pellegrini, speaking at his press conference to preview the game, said: “Fabian Delph and Clichy have worked normally”. “At this minute he is playing but I didn’t want him to play more than 65 minutes”.

“We have done extremely well and set a standard for ourselves now that we want to keep and maintain. As always, I said that we are not going to close the window but we are not really thinking of any special players to bring in”. I’d like my players to continue to fight like today.