Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini bemoaned his side’s Jekyll and Hyde performance as they dropped two points against Everton at Goodison Park.
With Chelsea overcoming a stubborn Newcastle side at Stamford Bridge, the result leaves City two points behind ahead of the top two sides’ meeting in three weeks’ time.
The champions took the lead through Fernandinho after 74 minutes only to concede a Steven Naismith equaliser four minutes later, but what most peeved Pellegrini was City’s wasteful first 45 minutes.
“We knew before the game that set-pieces were the most dangerous balls,” the Chilean manager told reporters.
“We could have done more with the goal, but we didn’t, and then we didn’t score the goals as well.
“I’m unhappy because I think that we merited three points especially in the first half when we had clear chances which we missed.
“If you said at the beginning of the game that we were going to draw with Everton away, maybe it’s not a bad draw, but after the way we played, it is disappointing.”
City were without midfielder Yaya Toure, on Africa Cup of Nations duty, but captain Vincent Kompany and top-scorer Sergio Aguero were fit enough to take the bench.
“It is good to have Sergio back,” said the 61-year-old manager. “He is a very important player for our team, and now he has the whole week to keep working his way back to his normal performance.”
Pellegrini refused to be drawn on the progress on signing on another striker, Swansea’s Wilfried Bony, and was happy that his side produced at least half a performance.
“We are not deciding the title right now,” said Pellegrini. “We have to keep trying to improve the way we play.
“I expected a very tough game because they are a very good team with very good players.
“They improved a lot in the second half so if you ask me about the second half I think a draw is normal, but they had their first chance in the 43rd minute and before that we had a lot of chances to score.”
Main image courtesy of Manchester City FC via YouTube, with thanks.
