Sterling will score more at City – Pellegrini

“Yaya, we know what he can give our team every game, so I am happy for both of them”.

“We played better and 3-0 is the minimum we deserved”.

“Maybe we were criticised for the amount we paid for him but I am sure he will demonstrate during the year, especially against the big teams, why he was valued so much”.

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has backed record signing Raheem Sterling to deliver against the likes of Chelsea.

In the two matches of 2015-16 played so far, there have been three blossoming pairings through the core of the team – something that was lacking when the club fell to pieces on the pitch in the second half of last season. However, we’ve seen from West Ham United that defensively organized teams can stifle even the best of attacking sides, and with Tony Pulis at the helm for West Bromwich Albion they may be able to continue the Week 1 trend.

Pellegrini opted to start with Aguero, despite concerns over his fitness levels after his Copa America involvement with Argentina. He opened the scoring with a wonderfully taken goal-the kind only he could score-with his balance, poise, close control and goalscoring instincts all in evidence.

Pellegrini claims he will have no issue shaking Chelsea rival Jose Mourinho’s hand this weekend. It was clear for all to see that City were the better side throughout the game-quicker to the ball and more inventive when they had it.

Manchester City look really good.

FC’s Marc Stein discusses how Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure have left the woes of last season behind them. Eliaquim Mangala appears to be more settled. There were few memorable performances throughout the previous campaign and in the end City looked like a group of individuals patched together in a hodgepodge manner.

One of City’s biggest problems of 2014-15 was that they weren’t playing to their full potential. While they are beginning to understand each other’s play, it’s actually Aleksandar Kolarov who’s benefiting most from the new signing’s performances. If City win again and play attractive football in doing so, then it will be time to make informed predictions on their title credentials.

Two games in, and City find themselves five points ahead of Chelsea, the pre-season favourites for the title.

The pace and verve they showed when winning the Premier League and Capital One Cup in 2013/14 are returning-a welcome sight for those who packed inside the newly revamped Etihad Stadium on Sunday. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.