Pellegrini: "We are going to United to win"

Manuel Pellegrini has insisted that his side won't be happy with a draw against Manchester United on Sunday, and are going for the win against their deadly rivals. Speaking in his pre match press conference, the Manchester City manager also complimented the signings made by Sunday's opposition, and assessed that his sides recent form hasn't been good enough.

"For me, a draw is never a good result," told Pellegrini. "I understand we are not having the results we need playing away - 2015 has not been a good year for us.

"We lost the last two games with two balls at set-pieces against Burnley and Crystal Palace, but we must continue to keep the good things we are doing because we are not a mess, we are doing a lot of things well.

"We are not having the results we need so we must improve, but never in my way of thinking would I be happy with a draw."

City have won the last four derbies against United, who have never lost five in a row to the side that Sir Alex Ferguson once described as 'noisy neighbours'. Pellegrini is keen for that run to be extended, and hopes that it will be a memorable game on Sunday.

"I think that they [Manchester United] have a lot of respect for us," said the Chilean. "In the last few years we dominated the derby and the Premier League. They bought a lot of very good players, Di Maria, Herrera, Falcao and Blind... it is no surprise that they're doing well.

"The fact that it's a derby gives the game an extra boost, I hope that not only the intensity is high but the quality is too, for the fans."

A poor run of form for the champions has seen them slide down to fourth in the Premier League, having only won five of their 12 league games in 2015. They lie a point and a place behind United, but Pellegrini doesn't expect Sunday's result to be the be all and end all in terms of finishing positions.

"Football has so many different things that can happen, but in my mind for my whole career is to try and win the next game you play. All the other things I don't think are very important.

"It's a very important game - it's a derby and we're very near in the table - but I don't think that the team that wins can think the season's finished. You have six games more to play and win."