MANCHESTER -- Manuel Pellegrini blamed referee
Bobby Madley for Manchester City's 2-1 defeat to
Everton by claiming he made an "unbelievable"
decision and two "important" mistakes that cost
his side.
The Chilean thought Everton's opening goal
should have been disallowed for offside, when
Romelu Lukaku was in Willy Caballero's line of
vision as the goalkeeper parried Ross Barkley's
shot to Ramiro Funes Mori, who scored.
And he believed his side should have had a
penalty when the City scorer Jesus Navas was
challenged by Everton substitute Kevin Mirallas.
Pellegrini said in a news conference: "I am
disappointed, especially for two very important
plays. The first goal is absolutely offside. It is
unbelievable the referee or linesman did not give
offside.
"Also it was a clear penalty for Jesus Navas; they
were two very important decisions. It is a foul
inside the box, a clear penalty. But the referee
didn't whistle for both actions. I give my opinion
because they were so clear."
But Pellegrini is confident City can overcome their
first-leg deficit when they meet again at the
Etihad Stadium on Jan. 27.
"If you lose 2-1 playing away and if you are not
able to win 1-0 at home you don't deserve to
continue," Pellegrini added.
City lost Eliaquim Mangala to a hamstring injury
and Pellegrini said the France international will
miss Saturday's trip to Norwich in the FA Cup,
plus potentially several other games.
City are already without one injured centre-back,
in captain Vincent Kompany, and now only have
Nicolas Otamendi and Martin Demichelis who are
fit.
"Mangala has a problem in his hamstring,"
Pellegrini added. "Of course it is a problem. We
have just two centre halves, Otamendi and
Demichelis and we have to play six or seven
games more in January. It is a lot of games."
Pellegrini defended his decision to start with
Caballero in goal and said he will play at Carrow
Road at the weekend.
"Willy is playing the Capital One Cup," he said.
"He will continue in the FA Cup also. I think he
played very well."
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