Manuel Pellegrini wants to develop Manchester City's academy players
Tuesday 27 October 2015 18:38, UK
Manuel Pellegrini says he feels a responsibility to bring through players from the Manchester City academy.
Wednesday night's Capital One Cup tie against Crystal Palace could provide an opportunity for some of City's younger players given Pellegrini is still without five first-team squad members.
City have built a modern academy adjacent to their Etihad home and have a clear aim, as published on their website, to "secure our future as one of the world's leading football clubs by investing in the development of young talent" and not just buying big-money players.
Teenage striker Kelechi Iheanacho has already scored a winner at Palace in this season's Premier League and is among those in contention in the continued absence of Sergio Aguero.
And Pellegrini, speaking at his pre-match press conference, said: "We'll see tomorrow if Kelechi will start.
"I don't think it's a change in direction. The development of young players is always important.
"It's not easy when you have a strong squad to give them a chance but in the way that they demonstrate they are good players, of course it is very important for our club to try to bring players from the academy to the first team.
"I think here we are working very well. We have important players that, maybe not in one month but in a couple of years, will play in the first team."
Pellegrini, who won the League Cup with City in 2014, insists City will be taking the competition seriously whoever plays.
"We are trying to have a starting XI tomorrow that is the best we can do in this moment," he said. "It's not easy because we have so many players with injuries and maybe a few players are playing a lot of games. But for our team it is important to try to continue in the Capital One Cup.
"When you play the final of a cup at Wembley with 90,000 people, I think it's always a very important cup."
