Pellegrini: City are playing catch-up

Manuel Pellegrini might have more reason than any other Manchester City manager in history to adopt a position of superiority as he prepares to take his team to Old Trafford for the first time in his career on Tuesday night.

Pellegrini’s men sit 12 points clear of Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League table, and the Chilean knows extending that advantage will both boost City’s title hopes and hand a crushing blow to David Moyes’ shaky hopes of reaching Europe.