Manuel Pellegrini has started the mind games early for next season by accusing his Chelsea rival José Mourinho of taking the credit “for everything”.
In an interview with the Chilean newspaper El Mercurio he said: “When he wins, Mourinho wants to take credit for everything. I never do that.
“When I won the Premier League, I didn’t say a word. I don’t have any problem with Mourinho, he’s not my enemy and there isn’t any conflict – but I differ from him on all fronts. I have no interest in analysing him as a person.”
The pair’s rivalry dates from their time in Spain when Mourinho replaced the Chilean as coach of Real Madrid in 2010.
Since then they have become managers of England’s leading teams, Pellegrini winning the title with Manchester City in 2014 and Chelsea taking their place at the top this year.
They renewed their war of words at the beginning of last season when the sides drew 1-1 at the Etihad Stadium in September. Pablo Zabaleta was sent off and Pellegrini accused Chelsea of being a “small team” who played like Stoke.
“It was very similar to the Stoke team, with a big team playing against a small team with very good players, trying to defend, trying to keep the score [0-0]. They had nine players in front of their box. They came just to draw and they scored on the counterattack against 10 players,” he said.
Mourinho responded by referring to him as “Pellegrino” and said: “I don’t comment on his words. Don’t ask me about his words, I am not interested in that.”
The sides meet again on 15 August at the Etihad in the second match of the new season.
