Premier League champions Manchester City kick off pre season with defeat at Dundee

Posted Monday, July 14, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk

MANCHESTER CITY began their pre-season campaign with a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Dundee.

Premier League champions Manchester City kick off pre season with defeat at Dundee
OOPS: Manuel Pellegrini's team full of superstars were humbled by Dundee

The Premier League champions - with big names such as Samir Nasri, Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic involved - looked sluggish and struggled to create chances.

New City goalkeeper Willy Caballero started in goal and there was also a place for midfielder Fernando following his £12m arrival from Porto.

Caballero marked his debut with a penalty save from Gary Harkins, but the striker followed up to poke home the rebound and put the Scottish side ahead.

Luka Tankulic netted a second for Dundee before half-time and City failed to get back into the game despite a host of changes by boss Manuel Pellegrini.

Elsewhere, Leeds' pre-season preparations descended into farce after their friendly opponents failed to turn up.

Dave Hockaday's men were due to play Romanian side Viitorul Constanta in Santa Cristina, Italy.

But after the no-show Hockaday decided to play a game between the first team and his own reserves.

The latest embarrassment for the Championship club came after they won their opening tour game 16-0 against minnows FC Gherdeina on Thursday.

Leeds have also announced the signings of midfielder Tommaso Bianchi, 25, from Sassuolo and Senegalese striker Souleymane Doukara on a season-long loan from Catania.