Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho's mind games are fooling nobody, says Manchester City's Manuel Pellegrini
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is unconvinced by Jose Mourinho's claim that Chelsea are out of the Premier League title race after losing to Crystal Palace
Manuel Pellegrini’s English might still lack some of the fluency of Manchester City’s football but he is already well acquainted with one of the Premier League’s favourite phrases. “Mind games?” he said. “I don’t think important managers can give any importance to those mind games. I don’t know if you think managers who seem to play mind games are more intelligent? I don’t think so.”
No prizes for guessing the context of Pellegrini’s remarks. Chelsea’s shock defeat by Crystal Palace had prompted Jose Mourinho to claim that his team were now out of the Premier League title race. Chelsea, of course, actually lead title favourites City by two points, albeit having played two more games, and news of Mourinho’s latest analysis caused Pellegrini’s veneer of relaxed satisfaction to turn into a look of exasperation. Or perhaps just boredom.
“I don’t know the way he thinks,” said Pellegrini. “My way of thinking is that the four teams have the same options to win the title. We have to win those six points [from the games in hand]. We don’t have six points more, we have two games postponed.”
Samir Nasri was equally unconvinced. “Do I believe him? No, not at all. He knows what he’s doing. He’s a good tactician. The title is not over for them. They will fight until the end.”
The City midfielder added: “Liverpool might have their destiny in their hands but so do we. They’re going to play Chelsea at home and us as well. It’s not going to be easy for them. We are not worried.”
City’s outstanding games are home fixtures against Sunderland and Aston Villa, with their visit to Anfield on April 13 looking increasingly like a title decider. City led Arsenal for 33 minutes on Saturday but, by the end, this felt like another point gained, particularly coming only four days after their 3-0 win at Old Trafford.
“I was more worried before this week when we had to play two difficult games away,” said Pellegrini “Four points is not bad from the six we can add this week.”
There was further encouraging news on Sergio Agüero, whose injured hamstring will be assessed over the next 48 hours in the hope that he might return against Southampton on Saturday.
David Silva also came through the Arsenal match in some style despite concern over his ankle. Having been the inspiration behind City’s early dominance, Silva put them into the lead with a finish that underlined his quick reactions and calm thinking after Edin Dzeko had smashed the ball against a post.
“I think Silva is in a very good moment, he is playing very well and is as important for our team as Suárez is for Liverpool,” said Pellegrini.
At that stage, only 18 minutes into the game, it looked like Arsenal could be heading for a fourth resounding defeat of the season against one of their main rivals. Lukas Podolski had again started on the left and, although his considerable defensive limitations were evident as he lost the ball before City’s goal, he was a persistent threat in attack. In the 53rd minute, his pass found Mathieu Flamini among a mass of arriving bodies in the penalty area to create Arsenal’s equaliser.
After all the gloom that has hung over Arsenal this past week, Flamini’s goal had a transformative impact on the atmosphere inside the Emirates and what followed was Arsenal’s best half of football in the Premier League this year. The best subsequent chance arrived when Podolski broke behind City’s defence but had his powerful shot brilliantly saved by Joe Hart.
Arsenal’s inability to find a winner did probably end their slight hopes of winning the Premier League – manager Arsène Wenger acknowledged they must now look over their shoulders as well as in front of them – but was crucial in restoring pride and self-belief after the 6-0 defeat by Chelsea.
“That was embarrassing for players who represent this club,” said goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. “We owed it to the manager, the fans and everyone at the club.
“You always look over your shoulders, always look who is in front of you. I’m confident we can finish strong.” And beyond that? “Do I feel like we’ve been fourth best?” said Szczesny. “I want to challenge to be the best and I won’t stop trying until I get there. We’ve been really unlucky. I think if you look at the players that have been out, it’s probably five or six players who are guaranteed in the starting line-up. I think there has been progress.
“The boss has been around for so long, has so much experience, I’m sure he’s been through times much worse than this. We believe in him, he believes in us and I’m sure he will work for a long time.”
Man City Look to Sign Barcelona wing-back Dani Alves in £15m Summer Swoop
Man City are reportedly ‘set to sign’ Barcelona wing-back Dani Alves this summer as the Catalan side look to help fund the cost of a major stadium overhaul with the sale of many of their current squad according to the Daily Mirror.
The 30 year old Brazilian has a £30m release clause though is perhaps unlikely to see that triggered and now the Nou Camp side seem ready to accept a £15m offer from the Etihad Stadium side.
The remodeling of the Nou Camp will cost the La Liga club as much as £500m so Gerardo Martino may well have to axe a number of other players at the end of the season to make a dent into such an outlay.
Alves has been a huge hit since moving from Sevilla to Barcelona back in July 2008, making 288 appearances for the club and aiding them to four La Liga titles and two Champions League triumphs among a host of honours.
One wonders where Alves will fit into Manuel Pellegrini’s side given that Argentine Pablo Zabaleta has been near flawless in the right-back berth in recent seasons.
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]Real Madrid are ready to offer Chelsea's 33-year-old defender Ashley Cole £8m in wages over two years. Cole's contract at Stamford Bridge expires at the end of this season. Sun
Liverpool are preparing a summer bid for Southampton's 24-year-old centre-back Dejan Lovren after missing out on the Croatia international last year. Daily Mirror
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is planning to revamp his forward line this summer, with the futures of strikers Demba Ba, 28, Fernando Torres, 30, and on-loan Romelu Lukaku, 20, likely to be under scrutiny. Guardian
Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa, 25, could be on his way back to former club Borussia Dortmund on loan, despite the Japan international's impressive display in the 4-1 win over Aston Villa on Saturday. Daily Mirror
United are ready to part with Wilfried Zaha, 21, for a cut-price £5m this summer, despite having signed the forward in a £10m deal from Crystal Palace in January 2013. Sun
Nuremberg's 21-year-old Swiss striker Josip Drmic has denied a move to Arsenal has been agreed, but says he dreams of one day playing for the Gunners. Sky Sports
Manchester United are targeting Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, 54, as a potential replacement for David Moyes should they decide to part with the 50-year-old Scot. Daily Star
United player-coach Ryan Giggs, 40, could quit his boyhood club at the end of the season after falling out with Moyes. Daily Express
Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood says he will continue to watch his side from the stands, despite calls from unhappy Spurs fans for him to direct the team from the technical zone. Daily Telegraph
Spurs players Aaron Lennon and Roberto Soldado took to social media in the wake of their side's 4-0 defeat at Liverpool to deny rumours of an altercation in the team's dressing room following the defeat at Anfield. Daily Express
West Ham's Stewart Downing, 28, has urged fans to get behind his team when they face Sunderland, following the boos that greeted the Hammers' 2-1 win over Hull last Wednesday. Sky Sports
Carlo Ancelotti has been left baffled by Real Madrid fans booing Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale during his side's 5-0 win over Rayo Vallecano. DSSC
Inter Milan are hopeful of bringing in Chelsea's Fernando Torres, but feel the £5m price tag for the 30-year-old striker is "oversized". Tuttosport
Liverpool have joined rivals Manchester United in the pursuit of Bayern Munich's 25-year-old defender Jerome Boateng. Bild
Everton defender Leighton Baines was spotted making a purchase from an ice-cream van outside Craven Cottage as reward for his side's 3-1 victory at Fulham on Sunday. Daily Express
MORE BOLLOX SOON
