Football
Jonathan Smith, Manchester City correspondent 8y

Manchester City produced 'perfect match' vs. Stoke - Manuel Pellegrini

MANCHESTER -- Manuel Pellegrini said Manchester City produced the "perfect match" as they warmed up for their Champions League semifinal with a 4-0 victory over Stoke City.

Fernando and Sergio Aguero opened the scoring in the first half before Kelechi Iheanacho added two more as City moved up to third in the Premier League.

The victory moved them five points clear of rivals Manchester United in the race for next season's Champions League places.

Pellegrini was also able to rest Vincent Kompany, Kevin De Bruyne and Fernandinho for the first leg against Real Madrid on Tuesday while David Silva, Aguero and Fernando were substituted early in the second half.

The City boss told a news conference: "I think it was the perfect match. It was important to have our mind focused on this game and not on Tuesday.

"Big teams must be able to have their minds in all competitions and have good performances in them.

"Like I said, though, it was exactly the same against Paris Saint-Germain -- we had played well against Bournemouth in the days before. It's a good way to prepare for the Champions League.

"The most important thing was the result but we need to play eight games in 30 days so it was important to make rotations.

"David Silva was just coming back from an injury so he played 60 minutes. 'Kun' [Aguero] has been playing 90 minutes a lot so it was good for him to rest. It was the same thing with Kevin De Bruyne.

"Fernando has a little pain in his knee but I think he will be okay for Tuesday. Yaya Toure finished with a muscle injury so we will see tomorrow with the doctor.

"It was a risk for Vincent Kompany to play two games in 72 hours. I think he will be OK for Tuesday -- he worked this morning and he is not having any problems."

Iheanacho took his tally to 11 for the season with a coolly taken double in his first Premier League start since Feb. 2 and Pellegrini was delighted with his contribution as he linked up neatly with Aguero to cause Stoke constant problems.

The Chilean added: "It was a very important contribution not just for this game -- Kelechi will have an important role in this club in the next years.

"He is not only a striker who scores goals in the box. He contributes in the way the team plays. He scores two goals, he receives a penalty so I am very pleased."

Stoke boss Mark Hughes admitted that injuries are causing him problems after his side conceded four goals for the fourth successive time.

The former City manager said: "We are struggling with the injuries we are having and players are playing with restriction in their play in terms of their physicality.

"Three poor games, too many poor goals conceded but we have had a decent enough season. We have three games to come. It is up to us to ensure we finish in a decent enough manner. We will go again."

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