Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes the Premier League title race is not over despite a damaging 1-0 defeat to relegation battlers Burnley at Turf Moor.
Burnley forward George Boyd scored the decisive goal with a superb half-volley to give the hosts a deserved victory on Saturday against the reigning champions.
The defeat means City remain five points behind leaders Chelsea, who can move 11 points clear if they win their two games in hand.
Pellegrini refused to concede they can no longer win the title.
“When you have a mathematical chance, you have a chance to win the title,” he said. “The reality is that it’s more difficult to do so now. Every point we drop will be more difficult.
“When you have mathematical chances you must continue fighting and see at the end of the season where you will finish. We are not worried about just our team. We know every time we drop it is more difficult. We have 27 points more we must fight for.”
The visitors produced a disappointing display as they failed to match the intensity and work rate of Burnley’s players, particularly in the first half.
City now turn their attention to the second leg of their last-16 tie against Barcelona at the Camp Nou, which they trail 2-1.
And perhaps with that match in mind Pellegrini refused to be critical of the performance of his players against Burnley.
“I am sure they tried to give everything,” he said. “Of course, we’re doing something wrong as we are not winning the games we normally do.
“I don’t want to focus on two or three players. We are a team, a squad of 22 players, and I’m sure they’re giving the most they can. It’s important to continue trusting what they are doing.
“I don’t think we played very bad. We had three or four chances. Burnley had just one and had one goal but I don’t think we created enough chances.
“Football is not only money. It is an important thing but any team can win against another in the Premier League. We must create more chances against a team like Burnley.”
Burnley manager Sean Dyche believes the result emphasised just how hungry his players are to remain part of the top flight. The victory means Burnley are within a point of safety, but Dyche said his players will not let the result distract them from pushing on.
“Our will and desire to be in the Premier League is all on show. But we won’t get too carried away,” Dyche said. “A lot has been made of this tough run of games. It is a rough run, we know that, but it is the challenge we wanted. It is not about the money. We wanted the challenge. When it is the big games, you don’t say ‘Oh, woe is us.’
“We know there’s a long way to go. The players are grounded. We haven’t been broken from defeat. We’ve been dented a few times, but this win reinforces confidence and belief.
“There is growth in the players and I have said it for many weeks. It doesn’t guarantee our future.”
Dyche praised the quality of Boyd’s winning goal which he struck after Kieran Trippier’s free-kick had been headed clear by Vincent Kompany, but directly towards the unmarked Boyd.
Dyche added: “George’s was just a magnificent strike, he has got that. It was a clean strike and a fantastic bit of technical work. There were some real strong individual performances, and he was terrific.”
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