Manchester City beat local team South China 1-0 in the semi-finals of the Barclay’s Asia Trophy in Hong Kong today.

Sunderland beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1, and the two winners will play the tournament final on Saturday.

All eyes were on Manchester City’s new coach, Manuel Pellegrini, who flew in to Hong Kong the previous day after abruptly leaving the team in South Africa after the death of his mother.

Edin Dzeko scored the only goal in the 1-0 win but most focus has been on Manchester City’s spending spree of almost 154 million U.S. dollars in strikers Alvaro Negredo, Jesus Navas, Stevan Jovetic and midfielder Fernandinho this summer.

Dismissing comments from Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho that City are title favourites and under more pressure following the new signings, the Chilean said pressure was normal.

Manchester City will line up to play Sunderland in the final on Saturday. Pellegrini indicated that he is using the tournament to ease himself into his managerial role, so he is ready for the new season.

Sunderland beat Tottenham 3:1 on a waterlogged pitch after torrential rain that delayed the game for half an hour and restricted the halves to 40 minutes play.

Tottenham Hotspur’s star player, Gareth Bale, did not play due to injury and the team were soundly beaten.

Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas agreed that the team had made mistakes.

Despite the weather, the semi-finals played to a packed Hong Kong stadium of 40,000 noisy fans of all four teams, highlighting the popularity of Premier League football in the former British colony.