Pellegrini: City will overcome Moscow meltdown

Champions League Group E

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini insisted there were no excuses after his side surrendered a two-goal lead to draw at CSKA Moscow.

City looked in command of their latest Group E assignment in the Russian capital — one they were anxious to win to ignite a faltering campaign — but were held 2-2 after conceding a controversial late penalty.

Pellegrini initially appeared to suggest his team got overconfident, by referring to “an excess of trust”, and that the freezing temperatures may have affected his team in the second half at the near-empty Khimki Arena.

But when pressed further, he insisted he was not trying to make excuses for his side’s third frustrating result in the competition this season.

The Chilean said: “The cold was exactly the same in the first half as the second half.

“The first half we played really well, scored two goals and had other chances to score. In the second half, maybe for different reasons, we couldn’t do it.

“I don’t like to give different excuses about what happened. I think we had it all to win and we didn’t.”

City had burst into life to claim the lead just before the half hour as David Silva released Edin Dzeko with a defence-splitting pass.

The Bosnian raced in on goal and then unselfishly squared for Aguero to tap home the opener.

City took a firm grip with a second well-worked goal after 38 minutes.

Pablo Zabaleta raced onto a long ball over the top from Toure and nodded down to Aguero. The Argentinian looked to scuff a shot but it rolled straight into the path of Milner, who made no mistake in front of goal.

Yet they contrived to emerge with only a point after Seydou Doumbia pulled one back with 65 minutes gone, and then won a controversial late penalty, which was converted by Bebras Natcho to seal a 2-2 draw.

Pellegrini said: “Of course I am very disappointed, not only because we were winning 2-0 at the end of the first half, because we had three or four chances to score.

“I think the first half was a minimum three or four goals difference, but football finishes in minute 95 and we allowed CSKA to draw.”

Goalkeeper Joe Hart did express his frustration about the penalty — which was converted by Berbas Natcho – but felt City should already have made the game safe.

Hart said: “I don’t think it was a foul but Aleks gave the referee a decision to make. We thought it was the wrong one, but a lot more could have been done before that to get the result.”

City have now collected just two points from their opening three games in the competition and will face a battle to qualify for the latter stages.

Pellegrini remains confident City will qualify from the group. “I trust in this group. I am sure we are going to qualify for the next stage. We will see in the next game what happens. In December we can talk about different things. Now we have nine points more to play for and I hope we will see the team that you saw in the first 45 minutes and the team you see every weekend in the Premier League.

“There is a lot more to fight for and we will fight to the end.”

CSKA coach Leonid Slutsky was pleased with his side’s fightback.

He said: “In the first half we did not play so well and the first moment for Manchester City was a goal.

“But we made a few changes, we changed a player and the system. I am happy with the overall result.”

CSKA MOSCOW: Akinfeev, Mario Fernandes, Vasili Berezutski, Alexsei Berezutski (Doumbia 46), Ignashevich, Shchennikov, Tosic (Efremov 69), Natcho, Milanov, Eremenko, Musa, Doumbia (Cauna 90).

MAN CITY: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Mangala, Kolarov, Milner, Toure, Fernando (Jovetic 86), Silva (Fernandinho 78), Dzeko (Jesus Navas 72), Aguero.

Ref: Istvan Vad (Hungary).