According to the Telegraph, Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has acknowledged Jose Mourinho’s claims of being out of the title race, but has played down the Portuguese manager’s tricks by suggesting big-time managers do not pay attention to such mind games.

Chelsea were beaten by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday, opening up the Barclays Premier League title hunt to Liverpool. City, on the other hand, drew their away fixture against Arsenal, while Liverpool took full advantage of their rivals slipping up by beating Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 at Anfield. The Reds will win the title if they win their remaining six games, as they still have to take on Chelsea and City at Anfield. City have two games in hand over the other rivals, and winning both will take them to the top of the league.

This season has been the first of Mourinho’s second spell at Stamford Bridge, and the manager had warned supporters not to have high expectations in the first season. However, given that Chelsea are the only club out of the three to be involved in the UEFA Champions League, it could work against them in terms of fitness of the players.