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QINHUANGDAO, China, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Former Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini on Thursday expressed his hope to lead his new club Hebei China Fortune to get into the AFC Champions League next year.
Hebei, which have not won a single game since late July, are standing sixth after last round's away defeat to Yanbian Fude 2-3 in the Chinese Super League (CSL). They are now seven points behind third-placed Shanghai Shenhua with five games remaining.
"Our goal has always been to advance into the AFC Champions League next year. Right now we are falling behind but we have to fight for it until the last minute," said Pellegrini.
"Even if we don't make it at the end of the season, we won't be regret if the team can insist on the tactics I set for us," Pellegrini said at Hebei's pre-match press conference against Chongqing Lifan.
Pellegrini currently had to pay more attention on Hebei's defense as three first-choice players are suspended including Turkey international Ersan Gulum.
"We did a lot of work on defense before this match. I believe our substitutes can deal with the situation. We will continue play attacking football but we must to know how to organize the defence at the same time," he noted.
