“It was a penalty that referee Mark Clattenburg wanted to sign for and he gave the sign”, Pellegrini told BBC Sport.
Advertisement
In the 53rd minute, Harry Kane gave Spurs a 1-0 lead from the penalty spot after Raheem Sterling was called for a handball right on the edge of the box.
City scored a total of 10 goals in its past two home games against Tottenham, but this Spurs team are a different prospect entirely and have become some pundits’ favorites for the title – despite their unfamiliarity with their lofty position. “Before that, it was a close game and the decisive penalty was important”.
According to Sky Sports News, the English governing body has opted against charging Pellegrini for his remarks. “I don’t think it is a good decision to have the same referee”, said the Chilean. “We must play for 36 more points”.
“I want to achieve greatness, like anyone else in this industry, and I want to be allowed to just play all the games, like (against Tottenham) – we didn’t win but I enjoyed it”.
Spurs are now just two points behind league leaders Leicester while fourth-placed City remain six points behind following a second straight defeat at home.
City have not beaten a top-six rival this season.
He said: “It is true that our supporters can dream, this is important, but for us we start to prepare for the (Europa League) game against Fiorentina”.
Pochettino would have been pleased with what he was seeing from his side as they dominated possession, but they could not make it count in the final third with Eric Dier firing over from distance and Rose’s goal-bound shot deflected over the bar by Pablo Zabaleta. “It is very important to start working again and believe all things can happen”. It hit the back of Sterling, then his elbow.
“The last two results we have had here at home were very bad”, said Pellegrini, whose team also lost to Leicester at the Etihad last weekend.
The decision seemed to fire up City and its fans, and Toure struck the crossbar with a free kick three minutes later.
“We feel if we work very hard, with everyone doing their job, we can beat any team”, said the 26-year-old Belgium worldwide, signed last summer from Atletico Madrid.
Christian Eriksen bagged Spurs’ late victor on his 24th birthday and says they are happy to let everyone outside their dressing room talk up their title chances.
Advertisement
Yes, the goal ignited City and brought out the best we had seen from them – Yaya Toure driving a free-kick against the bar and substitute Kelechi Iheanacho piling an equaliser past Hugo Lloris.
