Manuel Pellegrini cautious despite Manchester City’s win over Dynamo Kiev

Manuel Pellegrini insists Manchester City still have work to do after their Champions League last-16 first-leg win over Dynamo Kiev. City produced one of their best performances of the season to put one foot in the quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory in Ukraine on Wednesday night.

First-half goals from Sergio Aguero and David Silva put City in control before Yaya Toure made the result safe late on, after Vitaliy Buyalskiy scored during a Dynamo fightback.

“I am very happy,” said Pellegrini. “It is an important result, but it is not finished. I think the worst thing we can do is to think that because we won 3-1 away the game at home is finished. It is important to understand we are playing against a big team in Dynamo and it is important to have a good performance at home.

“But I think playing away and having a two-goal difference is a good result. We played very well, we created a lot of chances and we pressed very well. Maybe at 2-1 there were some moments of doubt but finally, we recovered the ball and scored the third goal.”

City’s performance gave Pellegrini some vindication for his controversial decision to field a weakened side in last weekend’s FA Cup defeat at Chelsea.

“I think in this profession you always get criticism when you don’t win but for the manager it is important to take the right decision,” he said.