Manuel Pellegrini takes swipe at Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho over negative football

Manuel Pellegrini is an advocate for attacking football

MANCHESTER CITY boss Manuel Pellegrini believes the leading Premier League managers have a duty to entertain.

 

In a veiled dig at Chelsea’s controversial boss Jose Mourinho on the eve of today’s Etihad clash Pellegrini insisted that he would never contemplate following the Portuguese’s tactics of sometimes putting up the shutters to try and secure victory.

City scored 10 more Premier League goals than the champions last season and displayed more adventure in the two 1-1 draws between the big rivals.

Pellegrini who knows that victory this afternoon will see his side move five points clear of Chelsea insists: “My way of thinking, as managers, we must take care of the Premier League.

“There are so many fans that want to see the games or watch on TV and I don’t like my team if we score one goal to back (defend) and the game is finished.

 

“I want to make a good game from the beginning to the end. And if we can score more goals, it’s better.

“That does not mean that we can’t defend, that we cannot play as a defensive team in a moment when we are struggling.

“But it should not be our intention from the beginning to score only one goal and try to finish the game.

“Here, we continue to play in the way that we think is the best way to win.”

 

Neighbours Manchester United have also come in for criticism this season, their two victories arriving from a total of just three efforts on target.

Pellegrini also believes it will be tough for Chelsea to retain the title.

He added: “It’s hard because here in England you have five very strong teams – all of them can win the title.

“They all have the same amount to spend on good players. They all have big squads. To win the title two years in a row is more difficult. When you win the title all the other teams want to be beat you.”