Manuel Pellegrini has challenged new signing Nicolas Otamendi to earn a place in his starting line-up but based on current form after two games without a goal conceded he may have to wait for his first start in a City shirt.
“We needed a centre back, and we analysed different options and selected Nicolas Otamendi.
“He’s a good header of the ball too and that’s important here in England.” added Pellegrini.
“In this moment in the way we are playing it’s impossible to move [Vincent] Kompany and [Eliaquim] Mangala from their positions.”
Pellegrini claimed that City were always after a new centre back this season.
He said: “There was a lot of talking about different options. The option that we wanted was to bring Otamendi here. I decided that Mangala must stay here with Otamendi.
“We tried to buy a centre back from the beginning of this new season, for different reasons we couldn’t buy before, but it was always in my mind to bring a new centre back here.” said Pellegrini.
Pellegrini dismissed suggestions that Otamendi was bought because the club were owed money by Valencia for the transfer of Alvaro Negredo.
The Chilean also accepted that the addition of Otamendi to the squad could allow City to try new tactics, including three at the back, but also hinted that the summer spending might not be over.
“This year we have bought Raheem Sterling, Fabian Delph, and Nicolas Otamendi.
“We’ll see at the end of August if there will be another player.” said Pellegrini who refused to comment specifically on reports that Wolfsburg’s Kevin De Bruyne was close to signing for City.
“We need a strong squad because all the teams [in the Premier League] have a strong squad and we play so many games here in England with such an intensity here that you need more than a good team, you need a strong squad.
“When you have good players you also have possibilities.” said the Chilean.
The influx of new players this season could see some exits from the fringes of City’s first team squad. Jason Denayer’s role in the squad was brought under scrutiny after the Otamendi was brought in while Marcos Lopes could find his path to the starting line-up restricted if De Bruyne signs in the next week.
“We will talk with him and his agent – Jason has improved a lot last season with Celtic and we will decide if he will stay or go in the next weeks.” added Pellegrini.
“Marcos Lopes is another player that has improved a lot playing one season on loan in France.
“Maybe he will go on loan again because it’s very difficult with David Silva and Samir Nasri playing in that position to get a game.
“He’s a very young player, just 19 years old, and it’s better for him to go on loan.”
Pellegrini confirmed that Pablo Zabaleta will be out for up to a month after sustaining knee ligament damage in training yesterday leaving Bacary Sagna as City’s only recognised right full back.
Zabaleta spoke to the official Manchester City website: “It’s the first time in 12 years of senior football that I’ve ever been injured like this so it’s a blow, especially at the start of the season.”
Fabian Delph returned to training on Wednesday and City have no other outstanding injury problems for the visit to Everton on Sunday.