Pellegrini Should Have Started Me Instead Of Aguero At Arsenal- Bony

Ivory Coast's Wilfried Bony has blamed coach Manuel Pellegrini for not starting him in Manchester City's 2-1 defear at Premier League title rivals Arsenal on Monday.

The manager started Sergio Aguero, who just returned from injury ahead of Bony, who scored three in four games while the Argentine was away.

However, Aguero was declared fit ahead of the clash at the Emirates Stadium and came straight into a side that was then beaten 2-1 by the Gunners.

When asked if he deserved to be playing, the former Swansea forward said: "I think so.

"He [Aguero] is coming back from injury. He hasn't played for a couple of weeks. I'm disappointed today that I didn't start but I'm not the coach.

"The coach does what he thinks is best for the team. I'm sure everyone on the bench wants to play. He just has to choose 11 players.

"So when I come on I just try to do my best to try to score or to give an assist to the other players to score to help the team to win."

He also revealed he would talk to boss Manuel Pellegrini about his position at the club.

"That's my feeling today," he said when asked if he would air his views to his manager. "We have lost the game so we just have to be ready for the next game.

"I will continue to work hard and think about the next game, prepare very well then it will depend on the coach who he is going to put in."

Bony was then asked if it summed up where he was in Pellegrini's thinking if he was dropped as soon as Aguero was deemed fit enough to start.

"That's what I mean," he said. "Everyone on the team wants to play but the coach has to choose 11 players. If it's good for the team like this it's OK. We go with that. Everyone must be ready to give 100 percent."

Bony did reject claims that talk of Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola taking charge at City in the summer was causing a distraction and does not feel the players are lacking belief.

When asked if City were losing confidence, he replied: "I don't think so.

"We didn't play well. I think they deserved to win. I think we will find our way in the next game so we just have to think about that.

"I don't know anything about that [Guardiola links] so it's not in my mind. There are a lot of games to play so we will think about the next game." ESPN