adminMANCHESTER. — Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes the English Premier League soccer title race is not over despite a damaging 1-0 defeat to relegation battlers Burnley at Turf Moor.
Burnley forward George Boyd scored the decisive goal with a superb half-volley to give the Clarets a deserved victory against the reigning champions on Saturday night.
The defeat means City are now six points behind league leaders Chelsea who now have one game more than Jose Mourinho’s side.
But Pellegrini refused to concede that they can no longer win the title.
“When you have a mathematical chance, you have a chance to win the title,”he said.
“The reality is that it’s more difficult to do so now. Every point we drop will be more difficult. When you have mathematical chances you must continue fighting and see at the end of the season where you will finish.
“We are not worried about just our team. We know every time we drop it is more difficult. We have 27 points more we must fight for.”
The visitors produced a disappointing display as they failed to match the intensity and work-rate of Burnley’s players, particularly in the first half.
City now turn their attention to the second leg of their last 16-tie against Barcelona at the Nou Camp, which they trail 2-1.
And perhaps with that match in mind Pellegrini refused to be critical of the performance of his own players against Burnley, despite being outfought by the Clarets.
“I am sure they tried to give everything,” added the Chilean.
“Of course we’re doing something wrong as we are not winning the games we normally do.
“I don’t want to focus on two or three players. We are a team, a squad of 22 players, and I’m sure they’re giving the most they can. It’s important to continue trusting what they are doing.
“I don’t think we played very bad. We had three or four chances. Burnley had just one and had one goal but I don’t think we created enough chances.” — AFP.
Online Reporter