Pellegrini blasts Chelsea for having ‘small team’ mentality

Lampard scores against former side to earn 10-man City a draw at the Ettihad

MANCHESTER, UK: Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini blasted Chelsea’s mentality as being similar to that of a ‘small team’, and believes there is more to come from former Stamford Bridge favourite Frank Lampard, who scored the equaliser for City in their 1-1 draw.  

The 36-year-old joined City on loan from MLS side New York City until the New Year after ending a 13-year spell with Chelsea.  “When I spoke with Lampard, it was not to make him a favourite to stay at City,” said Pellegrini. “It was because I was absolutely sure he will be a very useful player for our team.”

The Chilean felt that Lampard’s presence will be vital due to his experience.

“It was very important for our team to have a player with the experience and quality of Lampard."

Chelsea looked set for an important away win at Eastlands on Sunday when substitute Andre Schurrle tapped in from a low Eden Hazard cross, shortly after Pablo Zabaleta was sent off for a second yellow.

However, just seven minutes after coming off the bench, Lampard scored as he volleyed in James Milner's cross after a typical late run into the box to earn a point for the 10-man citizens.

After the hard-fought draw, Pellegrini was critical of Chelsea's approach, describing them as playing like a ‘small team’ and comparing them to Stoke, a physical and overly defensive side. “I think we played 90 minutes against a small team trying to defend, trying to keep 10 players in front of their goal, and [we were] a team that wanted to win from the beginning," he said.

"I think we played against exactly the same team we played against Stoke here.”

However, despite failing to close the five-point gap on leaders Chelsea, Pellegrini added he has no concerns about City's slow start to the season, who have now gone four games without a win for the first time in four-and-a-half years.

We left with better conditions: Mourinho

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, after seeing his team drop points for the first time this season, said he is happy with his team's position at the top of the table.

“It's one point won because we arrived here leaders with two points more than second and we leave the stadium with a three-point lead,” said the Portuguese. “We come here to a super-difficult stadium and a super-difficult opponent and we leave to better conditions than when we arrived.”

Mourinho has regularly criticised Pellegrini since he took over from the Chilean at Real Madrid in 2010, and has also mispronounced his name on several occasions, but refused to enter into a war of words with Pellegrini. "Pellegrino [sic], many times he says he never speaks about me and my team, but he keeps doing the same thing,” said Mourinho. “I don't comment on his words. Don't ask me about his words, I am not interested in that.”