Manchester City’s dominant form throughout the month of December assured Manuel Pellegrini ‘Manager of the Month’ honors in the Premier League.
It was the first time the Chilean has secured the award since his move to the Etihad to replace Roberto Mancini last summer.
Over a seven match stretch Pellegrini’s side went unbeaten registering six wins and one draw.
A 3-0 victory over Swansea City on December 1st started the month brightly for the Citizens and three days later they picked up three more points with a hard-fought 3-2 win at West Bromwich Albion.
City’s sole draw came against Southampton on December 7th when Dani Osvaldo’s exquisite strike cancelled out Sergio Aguero’s opener to end the match 1-1. The match at St. Mary’s proved a mere blip on the radar, however, as Pellegrini had his men firing once again when Arsenal came to town on the 14th. A six goal deluge handed City a 6-3 victory convincing many pundits that the 2011-12 champions are once again favorites.
On the 21st City disposed of a pesky Fulham side, 4-2, at Craven Cottage before returning home on Boxing Day to beat Liverpool 2-1 in one of the matches of the season. Two days later, Pellegrini’s squad finished their month-long dominance by inching past Crystal Palace, 1-0.
The 60-year-old snapped up the award ahead of Manchester United’s David Moyes, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho and Everton manager Roberto Martinez. City travel to Newcastle this Sunday where a victory could see them leapfrog Arsenal into first place.
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