Pell: City fans will love me too

MANUEL PELLEGRINI is sure the Manchester City fans who adored axed Roberto Mancini will love him too

The new boss, who has joined from Malaga, said: “It was not only the last manager who was popular with the fans.

“The Manchester City fans are incredible, whether they are playing in the Premier League or the Third Division.

“They always wish the manager, the players and club well. I will not have any problem with the loyalty.”

But City fans sang “You can stick Pellegrini up your a***” during Mancini’s last match in charge — the FA Cup final defeat to Wigan.

Mancini won the Premier League and FA Cup for City before getting the boot in May.

But Pellegrini admitted City had to improve on their dismal Champions League record — which has seen them go out at the group stage twice in a row.

He said: “We will try to improve on that but with this squad we can win trophies.”

City chief executive Ferran Soriano has challenged Pellegrini to win five trophies in as many years.

And the Chilean laughed: “Just five? We will work and see how many. At the end of the season I hope we will all be very happy.”