‘Leicester are title favourites’

While he is confident the 3-1 defeat is just a blip for Manchester City with everything still to play for, he is dismayed by the news David Silva has joined a lengthy injury list and could miss another pivotal game against Tottenham Hotspur next weekend. 

At the end of a week in which his exit at the end of the season to be replaced by Pep Guardiola has been the talk of the Etihad Stadium, Pellegrini refused to use that sideshow as an excuse for the fact his team dropped six points behind Leicester. 

“I don’t want to make excuses. Leicester played better than our team. If they continue the way they are playing they are favourites as they are doing well and have an advantage in points,” Pellegrini told reporters. “It just depends on what they can do from now until the end of the season but having to play 13 more games it is very difficult to predict.” Third placed Manchester City had only a late Sergio Aguero consolation to enthuse about after a double from Robert Huth, sandwiched by a lovely slalom and strike from Riyad Mahrez, had put Leicester in total command. 

England striker Jamie Vardy has signed a new contract with Premier League leaders Leicester City that will keep him at the club until June 2019. The news completed a perfect Saturday for Leicester fans, still in ecstatic mood following the 3-1 win at Manchester City that left them five points clear at the top of the table. “I’m absolutely delighted to be fighting to achieve something special,” Vardy told the club website (www.lcfc.co.uk). “I’ve never known a spirit like it, from the owners to the manager and his staff, the players and the fans. I want to be part of it for a long time. 

“Leicester have shown nothing but total faith in me since the day I arrived here three and a half years ago and it’s impossible to measure how much that belief has helped me to improve,” said Vardy.