Intro:

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini speaking ahead of Sunday's Premier League match away to Southampton.

Script:

SOUNDBITE (English) Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City manager: (On Southampton)

"If you review last season I think that Southampton was very near this position last week. I don't know exactly the amount of points - but it was an important team also, especially in the first round (early stages) of last year. So for me it's not a surprise because I repeat they have very good players and they play well. Well, of course.

SOUNDBITE (English) Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City manager: (On Ronald Koeman)

"That's a miracle I think for Ronald Koeman that with four of five players that were in Southampton last year today are not there, he continues (them) being a very strong team."

SOUNDBITE (English) Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City manager: (On Sergio Aguero).

"He's a top player, he's a very important striker here in the Premier League and we are very glad to have him in our team.

SOUNDBITE (English) Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City manager: (On Sergio Aguero).

"Well, of course I think that nobody's irreplaceable. I don't think that (Lionel) Messi at Barcelona, Cristiano (Ronaldo) at Real Madrid or Sergio here, or a lot of very important players. He's a very important player. Of course it's not the same to play with Aguero as without Aguero - but I always say that we have a squad, and if for different reasons Sergio cannot play we must have another one that can do it. If you remember we play... or we won the title last year with a lot of games without Sergio. But of course when he plays (it) makes a difference."

SOUNDBITE (English) Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City manager: (On title challenge)

"Mathematically, and not only exactly in football, but you know that need an amount of points every round if you want to fight for the title. The only thing that we must do because it's the only thing that we can do in this moment is to try to win (at) Southampton on Sunday, and then we will see what we can do against Sunderland on Wednesday. So it's important to win and I hope that we will do it on Sunday."