Pellegrini Salutes Spirited Manchester City

Manuel Pellegrini believes Manchester City showed great spirit they will need to maintain their Premier League title challenge after getting a late 2-1 win over Swansea.

Pellegrini’s team looked set to drop two points at home to their managerless opponents on Saturday when substitute Bafetimbi Gomis drove in a 90th-minute equaliser for his first goal since August.

But City then found a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Yaya Toure’s shot was deflected in off the back of Kelechi Iheanacho.

The victory moved City back to the top of the table, although Arsenal will replace them on Sunday with a victory at bottom club Aston Villa, while Leicester will have the opportunity to regain first place for themselves when they host Chelsea on Monday.

City’s title credentials were severely questioned after a lacklustre 2-0 loss at Stoke last weekend, but Pellegrini was encouraged by the way his players overcame their inconsistent display against Swansea and found a way to grind out the victory.

“I think we showed the spirit of this team when Swansea came back to 1-1. There were just two minutes more to play. We tried to score and fortunately we got another goal,” Pellegrini said.

“Of course, there was a feeling of relief. Without the last two minutes, maybe we would have won 1-0.

“For me, it would have been very important to keep a clean sheet and win 1-0.

“We didn’t play well, but we got the three points. It was important to win the game.

“We had that unfortunate match against West Ham in September, when we had 20 shots on goal and lost 2-1.

“I knew before this game that it would be very difficult. We were not 100 percent recovered from the Champions League game against Borussia Monchengladbach on Tuesday. David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne were both fitness doubts until yesterday.”