In form Manchester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho admits the club’s preparations and confidence took a big hit at Southampton ahead of their huge Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.
The Citizens will head for the Bernabeu on Wednesday for the second leg against the Spanish giants on the back of an emphatic 4-2 defeat at St Mary’s.
Striker Iheanacho , the only City player to emerge with credit after scoring twice, said, “This game is not good preparation for us.
“The game didn’t give us enough confidence to go on Wednesday
“But we will put it behind us, focus and train and go to the Bernabeu and hope we qualify. So many things went wrong in the game.
“We lost so many balls and we didn’t defend quite well and we lost, so we are not happy. We will keep it behind us and come back stronger.”
City’s Champions League hopes are hanging in the balance after a 0-0 first leg draw at the Etihad.
Iheanacho, 19, said, “It is going to be a big challenge for us but we will keep our heads down and keep working hard to get to the final.”
Pellegrini made eight changes for the trip to Southampton which was sandwiched in between the two City legs.
But while the rest of the new faces in the City side did nothing to enhance their chances of starting in Spain, Iheanacho pressed his claims with his clinical double.
The exciting Nigerian teenager’s two goals took his City tally to 13 goals in 32 appearances, just nine of them being starts.
And he insists he won’t be fazed if Pellegrini calls on him at the Bernabeu to score the goals to help fire City into the Champions League final.
Iheanacho said, “It doesn’t matter where you find yourself, you have to focus and concentrate.
“Work for the team, work hard and when the ball falls to you you have to put it in. It would be a dream come true for me to go to the Bernabeu. I am happy if I go there and I hope we do well there and there is a great atmosphere.
“I haven’t been there before but I am happy to go there to get a win. If I play I need to work hard for the team and help them qualify for the finals if we get the goals.”
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