City are buzzing for Manchester derby, says Pablo Zabaleta
Saturday 24 October 2015 13:30, UK
Pablo Zabaleta feels Manchester City are heading into this weekend's derby at Old Trafford with a spring in their step.
Manuel Pellegrini's team have enjoyed a fine week after thrashing Bournemouth 5-1 before coming from behind to beat Sevilla 2-1 in the Champions League with a last-gasp winner.
They now face arch-rivals Manchester United looking to maintain their momentum at the top of the Premier League and open up a five-point gap over their neighbours.
Zabaleta, who has played in 14 derbies since joining City in 2008, believes their European efforts have put them in a great place and said: "It was a massive win for confidence. Now hopefully we can put in a good performance on Sunday and win the game.
"Derbies are always special games. I have had the opportunity to play a lot of them since I have been here and I know it is a special game for the fans.
"It is a huge game, probably one of the greatest games you can watch in the Premier League, especially with both teams near the top of the league. They have a chance to beat us and go on top of the table and we have a chance to extend the gap.
"Now it is time to be focused on the game, forgetting about the Champions League - hopefully we did that job on Wednesday - and play a good game on Sunday."
City have been rejuvenated this season after an underwhelming title defence last term which included a miserable 4-2 defeat at Old Trafford in their last derby.
They responded by winning their final six games of last season and carried the momentum into the current campaign, extending the sequence to a club record 11 successive top-flight victories.
Zabaleta added: "When you lose a derby like that it is very frustrating but now we have another chance to show how good we are doing in the Premier League."
Pellegrini thinks the shock of that derby result last spring may have jolted his team back into life.
The Chilean boss said: "I remember that game, it was a strange defeat. We started really well but we finished playing very badly.
"Maybe that was one of the reasons for the important reaction of the team and why we won the last six games."
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