Nicolas Otamendi best option for Man City, says Manuel Pellegrini
Friday 21 August 2015 17:22, UK
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini thinks the arrival of new defender Nicolas Otamendi fills an important hole in the squad.
However, Pellegrini says the former Valencia man may have to wait for his debut, due to the impressive form of Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala.
Otamendi, a 27-year-old Argentina international, joined City from Valencia this week in a deal believed to be worth in the region of £32m.
And Pellegrini is delighted to have another option for the heart of his defence, with Otamendi set to share the workload with Kompany, Mangala and Martin Demichelis.
We analysed different options and we decided that Nicolas Otamendi was the best option. I think he is a very good player, he is improving.
"I think that we needed a centre-back," said the City boss.
"We analysed different options and we decided that Nicolas Otamendi was the best option. I think he is a very good player, he is improving.
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"I know him from when he played in Porto with Mangala, both of them against (Pellegrini's former team) Malaga in the Champions League. Last season with Valencia, he had a very good season."
However, City have won their opening two Premier League games of the season 3-0 and it seems that Otamendi will not be needed immediately.
Pellegrini added: "In this moment, in the way we are playing, it is impossible to move Kompany and Mangala from their positions, and all the rest of the players. They are in a good moment.
"We did not concede one goal in the last two games, we continue playing with the same."
The Otamendi signing may have implications for the other centre-back in City's first-team squad, Jason Denayer, and the young Belgium international may go out on loan again, having spent last season at Celtic.
"We will see now where he will go or if he stays here," said Pellegrini. "We will decide in the next weeks."
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