Manchester City boss, Manuel Pellegrini has dismissed Jose Mourinho’s attempt to rule Chelsea out of the title race and claimed the Portuguese’ mind games are not clever.
Mourinho and Pellegrini have clashed a few times this season as the Blues' boss tried to put pressure on everyone around his side in the Premier League’s title race.
Pellegrini has left most Mourinho’s comments unresponded but didn't keep quiet following his counter-part's recent claims.
"I don't think important managers can give any importance to those mind games," Pellegrini said.
"I don't know if you think managers who seem to play mind games are more intelligent, but I don't think so.
"I don't have a response because I don't know what Mourinho said. It is not my duty to analyse what Mourinho says, it is your duty.”
Following Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat on Saturday, the Blues have been surpassed by new log leaders, Liverpool, and Man City can also still move above Chelsea, if they win at least one of their two games in hand.
Pellegrini, however, insists that even Arsenal – seven points behind Liverpool – are still in the title race.
"I repeat: I don't know the way he thinks. My way of thinking is that the four teams have the same options to win the title,” the Chilean added.
“It is very close, as all the other teams have 18 points more to win, with six games more.
"We have eight games more and we have to win those six points. We don't have six points more, we have had two games postponed so I think we all have the same chances."
Jose Mourinho, meanwhile, has hinted at a major overhaul of his squad, with the future of all his current three strikers – Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto’o and Damba Ba – uncertain.
"I don't think it's the moment to speak about next season and the market but it's clear to everybody that Chelsea next year wants to bring a striker," Mourinho said.
"What's the future for the other strikers? The ones who are staying are competing with the striker we are bringing (in).
“And normally, at the end of the season, players that are not playing a lot or players who are not happy may prefer a change.
"That is also part of the market. We want to improve the team and the players and make some surgical movements in the transfer window.
"It's also clear that we want to improve our players. I can't and I don't need to improve (Branislav) Ivanovic, (Gary) Cahill, John Terry.
"There are other guys I need to improve. I think we are doing that step by step, but it's not enough to be champions."
The Blues are still in contention for the league title and face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final, but if they were to end up without a trophy in these two competitions, it would be the first title-less season under Mourinho at Stamford Bridge.
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