From Niche to National Asset: Inside the Egyptian Golf Federation's Institutional Rebirth    Egypt signs $140m financing for Phase I of New Alamein silicon complex    Egyptian pound edges lower against dollar in Wednesday's early trade    Oil to end 2025 with sharp losses    GlobalCorp issues eighth securitization bond worth EGP 2.5bn    Egypt completes 90% of first-phase gas connections for 'Decent Life' initiative    5th-century BC industrial hub, Roman burials discovered in Egypt's West Delta    Saudi Arabia demands UAE withdrawal from Yemen after air strike on 'unauthorised' arms    Egyptian-Italian team uncovers ancient workshops, Roman cemetery in Western Nile Delta    Egypt to cover private healthcare costs under universal insurance scheme, says PM at New Giza University Hospital opening    Qatari Diar pays Egypt $3.5bn initial installment for $29.7bn Alam El Roum investment deal    Egypt to launch 2026-2030 national strategy for 11m people with disabilities    Kremlin demands Ukraine's total withdrawal from Donbas before any ceasefire    The apprentice's ascent: JD Vance's five-point blueprint for 2028    Health Ministry, Veterinarians' Syndicate discuss training, law amendments, veterinary drugs    Egypt completes restoration of 43 historical agreements, 13 maps for Foreign Ministry archive    Egypt, Viatris sign MoU to expand presidential mental health initiative    Egypt sends medical convoy, supplies to Sudan to support healthcare sector    Egypt's PM reviews rollout of second phase of universal health insurance scheme    Egypt sends 15th urgent aid convoy to Gaza in cooperation with Catholic Relief Services    Al-Sisi: Egypt seeks binding Nile agreement with Ethiopia    Egyptian-built dam in Tanzania is model for Nile cooperation, says Foreign Minister    Al-Sisi affirms support for Sudan's sovereignty and calls for accountability over conflict crimes    Egypt flags red lines, urges Sudan unity, civilian protection    Egypt unveils restored colossal statues of King Amenhotep III at Luxor mortuary temple    Egyptian Golf Federation appoints Stuart Clayton as technical director    4th Egyptian Women Summit kicks off with focus on STEM, AI    UNESCO adds Egyptian Koshari to intangible cultural heritage list    Egypt recovers two ancient artefacts from Belgium    Egypt, Saudi nuclear authorities sign MoU to boost cooperation on nuclear safety    Egypt warns of erratic Ethiopian dam operations after sharp swings in Blue Nile flows    Egypt golf team reclaims Arab standing with silver; Omar Hisham Talaat congratulates team    Sisi expands national support fund to include diplomats who died on duty    Egypt's PM reviews efforts to remove Nile River encroachments    Egypt resolves dispute between top African sports bodies ahead of 2027 African Games    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Guardiola appointment not behind City's slump: Pellegrini
Reuters Published in Ahram Online on 23 - 02 - 2016

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has rejected the notion that the club's announcement that Pep Guardiola will take over at the end of the season has derailed their campaign.
"Really, that's not the problem," the Chilean told a news conference on the eve of the the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie at Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday.
City have, however, been hit by injuries, especially in midfield, and are without Fabian Delph, Kevin De Bruyne, Jesus Navas, Wilfried Bony and Samir Nasri.
The club announced on Feb. 1 that Bayern Munich coach Guardiola would replace Pellegrini at the Etihad stadium from July and since then their form has nosedived.
City won at Sunderland in the Premier League the day after Guardiola's arrival was confirmed but they have since lost home games to title rivals Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur and exited the FA Cup with a humiliating 5-1 defeat at Chelsea.
The Kiev game will be followed four days later by the League Cup final against Liverpool in a crucial period that could determine whether Pellegrini's last season ends with a trophy.
"All the players and staff are thinking about just this season. We have important challenges this year and we are focused in every game," he said on Tuesday.
"Tomorrow is the Champions League, after that we have the (League Cup) final at Wembley on Sunday, and on Wednesday we return in the Premier League (at Liverpool) -- it's very easy because we are focusing on winning silverware this season."
With City's Premier League title hopes dented by successive defeats, Pellegrini faced heavy criticism for fielding a second-string team in their FA Cup fifth round loss at Chelsea.
But the coach noted his team's injury woes and said he was forced to prioritise the Champions League.
City have never got past the last 16 and were eliminated by Barcelona at that stage in the previous two seasons.
While Pellegrini's side wrestle with injuries and fixture congestion, Kiev are well rested and set for their first official match after a 2-1/2 month winter break.
"Last time we were eliminated by Barcelona at this stage, but now we are facing Dynamo and hopefully, this time, the result will be positive," Pellegrini said.
"We have a great chance to get through. But only the best teams can make it to the Champions League knockout round and this is true for Dynamo too.
(For more sports news andupdates, followAhramOnlineSportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebookatAhramOnlineSports.)
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/188366.aspx

Clic here to read the story from its source.