Wednesday 22 October 2014 09:23, UK
A frustrated Manuel Pellegrini remains confident Manchester City can qualify for the Champions League knockout stages despite seeing his side squander a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at CSKA Moscow.
City led 2-0 at half-time, thanks to goals from Sergio Aguero and James Milner, but 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.
Asked if his team are now outsiders to get out of Group E, Pellegrini told Sky Sports 5: "Why? We have nine points more to play for. After we have played for the remaining nine points, we will see.''
Asked further if he is confident City will qualify, he said: "Of course, in the end.''
City have now taken just two points from their opening three fixtures and seemingly have to beat CSKA at the Etihad Stadium on November 5 if they are to stand any chance of progressing.
Pellegrini admitted his side had been made to pay for not killing the game off.
"Football is 95 minutes, it's not just the first half," Pellegrini added.
"We played very well, we scored two goals and we had clear chances to score two or three more goals.
"But we didn't and we have to play 90 minutes with a team that is a good team. If you give them space, they are a dangerous team.
"We didn't have the pace and we didn't move the ball as we did in the first half - we didn't really have one chance to score, and finally they scored that penalty that the referee whistled for CSKA.''
The spot-kick was awarded by Hungarian referee Istvan Vad after Doumbia went to ground theatrically under Aleksandar Kolarov's challenge, but Pellegrini refused to discuss the decision which handed the Russians their first point.
"I don't want to talk about the referee," Pellegrini said.
