Premier League: Manuel Pellegrini says Chelsea were negative after 1-1 draw

Manuel Pellegrini felt that Chelsea showed no desire to win the game after Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium.

City needed a late goal from former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard to get a point and had seen Pablo Zabaleta sent off midway through the second half, but Pellegrini was still unhappy with the result.

He was pleased with the spirit shown by his City players but less satisfied with what he felt was an overly defensive approach from Chelsea.

Having already lost 1-0 at home to Stoke City earlier in the season, City remain five points adrift of the leaders and Pellegrini believes it will be hard to defend their title.

“I think it was very similar to the Stoke game,” he told Sky Sports.

I think it will be very difficult to defend the title because teams are playing the way Chelsea played against us.

“It was very difficult because they have very good players, but they had nine players in front of their box.

“We had chances, especially in the second half, to open the scoring, but we couldn’t do it.

“After they scored we showed our character, with the way we played with ten men.

“I think it will be very difficult to defend the title because teams are playing the way Chelsea played against us. 

“I didn’t think they had an intention to win the game, just to score on the counter-attack.”

Pellegrini, who did not want to discuss Mike Dean’s decision to dismiss Zabaleta, added: “It wasn’t a pleasure to draw today.”