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Manuel Pellegrini admits Manchester City cannot afford a slow start to the season if they are to win the title, writes David McDonnell in Hong Kong.

The new City boss knows how vital it is to get his reign off to a flier and ensure they are not playing catch-up from early on in the season.

Chelsea flew out of the blocks in their back-to-back title-winning seasons under Jose Mourinho, with former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson acknowledging they had made it impossible to recover from a slow start.

With Mourinho back at Chelsea determined to make another quick start to his second spell in charge, Pellegrini believes City cannot afford to falter early on and concede vital ground in the title race.

“It’s important to make a quick start and to win the first league game, because if you lose ground it’s difficult to recover,” said Pellegrini.

“The English Premier League is a different league than I have worked with before, but I’m not concerned about that.

“Of course it’s always good to have more time but I hope the team will be prepared for the season ahead.”

City have served notice of their intent to reclaim the title this season, having already spent £92.3million – with the promise of more to come.

Despite such a significant outlay, Pellegrini, 59, does not think City are favourites for the title, even though he is happy with his players.

“I think City has a very good squad,” said Pellegrini. “And I’m very pleased with it.

“But Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham also have very good squads.

(Image: Getty)

“Four or five teams have exactly the same chance of winning. I don’t think any club has an advantage – it’s very equal.

“The only way I can explain how Manchester City will play is the way my teams have always played.

“I have been managing in Europe for nine years and in South America before that, and my teams always play the same way.”

City take on Sunderland today in the final of the Barclays Asia Trophy in

Hong Kong, with Pellegrini keen to use as many of his squad as possible.

“I don’t know who will start the final,” said the City boss. “But I will try to play all the players and give them a similar number of minutes on the pitch.

“I will speak with many of those who have just arrived with the squad, like Stevan Jovetic, Jesus Navas and David Silva. Then we can see who can play.”

Jovetic, a £22m signing from Fiorentina, is likely to come off the bench for his City debut and is happy to play anywhere he is told to.

“I like to play behind the striker or on the left,” he said. “But it is the coach who decides and what he thinks is best for me, I will do.”

Jovetic said Matija Nastasic, his Montenegro international colleague and new City team-mate, played a big role in his move to England.

“He told me all the good things about the Premier League when we spoke every week,” said Jovetic.

“He called me last season to tell me to come here and I hope I can repeat the success he has had here.

“I have watched all of City’s games and he has played really well, especially for a guy who was just 19 years old when he signed for the club.”