Samir Nasri has compared current Manchester City coach Manuel Pellegrini to his former manager at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger.
Although Roberto Mancini delivered the FA Cup to the Etihad Stadium in 2011 and the league title the following year, a disappointing season led to the Italian being dismissed during the summer. Pellegrini, who had impressed at Villarreal and Malaga, was installed as the new Blues boss, but he has found life in England far from plane sailing.
City may well have progressed to the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history, but they have already lost four times in the Premier League and are currently eighth place in the standings, although they are just six points behind the leaders. Nasri, though, has been in impressive form, and he believes the Chilean has helped him in much the same way Wenger did during his time at Arsenal.
“He does remind me of Arsene in respect of the way he works,” he said. “He has the same approach in the way he talks to players and tells them when things are good and when they are bad. But it’s always constructive and you always know what he wants form you, and what you to bring to the team. I feel that he trusts me and that he gives me responsibilities on the pitch. When you have a manager like that, you want to repay that sort of faith.”
Nasri featured in 28 league matches under Mancini last season, yet he has played in every one so far under Pellegrini, including seven starts. He will hope to be amongst the names on the first XI when the Premier League resumes after the international break, when City will look to get their title bid back on track against Tottenham Hotspur at home.
