Manuel Pellegrini: Mangala faces battle for regular place

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has warned that the new signing Eliaquim Mangala will have to compete to earn a regular place in team this season.

The Frenchman has not made his debut yet – following his £32m move to the Premier League champions from Porto during the summer transfer window, and Pellegrini has claimed the 23-year-old defender must have to find his way to break up the partnership of Vincent Kompany and Martin Demichelis at the Etihad Stadium.

“We need the three of them,” The Daily Star quotes the Chilean as saying. “Like I have said about the strikers, it’s the same with the defenders.

“We have so many games to play. At the moment Demichelis and Kompany are playing well, but that doesn’t mean Mangala can’t play.

“He will have his time to play, and then it depends on performances.”

Mangala is likely to make his debut at Emirates against Arsenal next on Saturday 13 September, 12:45 BST.