Manuel Pellegrini pleased with gritty Man City point at Old Trafford

Manuel Pellegrini was pleased to take a point from the Manchester derby after admitting his City side didn't play to their best level at Old Trafford.

City returned to the top of the Premier League after the goalless draw with United, with the hosts going closest late on through Jesse Lingard's effort off the bar.

The tussle yielded just one shot on target for each side but Pellegrini reflected on a "very good point" away from home.

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He told Sky Sports: "I think it's a good point. In the second half we started losing so many balls. 

"We tried to have good build-up. United had possession but not many chances - just the one where they hit the crossbar. 

"It's not a bad day, it's difficult to play in the Manchester United stadium, if we drew this game at home maybe I would not be happy."

City, who have scored 24 goals in 10 games this season, the most in the Premier League, have been criticised in the past for a leaky defence.

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But Pellegrini insists the 0-0 draw at Old Trafford shows his side can defend when necessary, even if that is not how he prefers to approach a game.

"I am satisfied with a point but I do not like to play in this way," he added. "It's easy to play in this way. A lot of people call it tactical games, mind games, but it's easy to do.

"It's important to have a point here, but I don't think it's the way teams should play.

"What did I not like? Not to have possession, not to create chances in the second half, but I repeat it is a very difficult team, we are playing away. 

"At this moment it is a very good point, we were very concentrated, well defending, and maybe a lot of media criticise, but we can do it also. If we want to defend, we can defend.

"We don't like it though, we like to be an attacking team, but today we couldn't because we didn't play well."