Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has upped the stakes for his players ahead of the new season by insisting they must win the title back from Chelsea.

Man City surrendered their crown last season, unable to push Chelsea in the closing weeks of the campaign as the Blues ran out champions by a convincing eight points.

Pellegrini says he has complete faith that his squad are capable of bridging that gap this time around.

“I am absolutely sure that we are going to have a very successful season. We must bring back the title here to our fans,” he said.

The Chilean feels his team must build a platform from which to challenge Chelsea this season.

“All together, we must win game by game to try to do it. We need to play in the way we know how to play to continue with our attacking style and score the most amount of goals,” he said.

“We are sure, as I have just said, that we are going to bring it back.”

Pellegrini looks likely to hand Wilfried Bony more game time with Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic having moved away this summer.

The City boss, however, has also hinted that big-money summer arrival Raheem Sterling could enjoy a role further forward and he says he will not sign any more strikers before the transfer window closes.

“We have Kelechi (Iheanacho) that is a young player who I think must find a place here in our squad. Sterling can also play in front. I think we are going to bring in other players but not in that position,” Pellegrini said.

Man City are 3.75 to win the Premier League this season.

They begin with a trip to West Brom on Monday night, a game City are 1.67 to win. West Brom are 5.50 with the draw 4.00.