MANUEL JIBE AT ‘SMALL’ CHELSEA

MANUEL PELLEGRINI dismissed Chelsea as ‘a small team’ after Jose Mourinho claimed Manchester City should have been docked points for breaking UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules. The City boss acknowledged Chelsea deserve to win the Premier League title — but said Mourinho’s willingness to play defensively suggests they do not see themselves as a big club. ‘When we play against Chelsea I say the impression is we play against a small team with very good players,’ he said. ‘Every person is different. For me, a big team which has possession of the ball must try to score more goals, must try always to win. It is different ways of thinking.’ Mourinho’s streetwise Chelsea side came in for criticism after their 0-0 draw at Arsenal last weekend, for a perceived negative approach. City, meanwhile, are once again top scorers in the Premier League and Pellegrini (right) vowed he would never consider dropping his attacking style. Pellegrini was reacting to Mourinho’s claim, revealed by

Sportsmail yesterday, that City’s £49million fine and spending cap was ‘unfair’ and that Pellegrini’s side should have been docked points instead. But the City boss disagreed with his old adversary and accused him of talking too much. ‘Every manager can say what he wants about Financial Fair Play rules,’ he said. ‘We don’t lose points because we don’t deserve to.’ Chelsea are 13 points clear at the summit and Pellegrini, in what could be perceived as a message to City’s owners after their summer signings failed to make a substantial impact, paid tribute to Roman Abramovich. ‘I congratulate his (Mourinho’s) owner because he is always improving his squad,’ he said. ‘And I congratulate his fans, Mourinho and the players because they deserve the title.’ City will be without injured trio Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and Stevan Jovetic for tomorrow’s trip to Tottenham.