Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has directed a thinly-veiled barb at the way in which Chelsea players surround officials in key games.

The Blues were heavily criticised for their mass reaction during the incident that saw Paris St-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic red-carded in their midweek Champions League game.

The Swede was sent off in the first half but, despite taking the lead twice on the night, Chelsea were knocked out on away goals.

Mourinho responded by telling the press his team would win the Premier League, and the City manager has continued the war of words by insisting his team do not antagonise officials.

“You will never see a player of City surround the referee. I don’t think that’s the way this team is prepared to win,” the Chilean said ahead of City’s trip to Burnley on Saturday evening.

He claims a player’s reaction is based on how the manager prepares the team. However, Pellegrini did tell his press conference he wasn’t referring directly to Chelsea and he doesn’t subscribe to the theory of ‘mind games’ – preferring to view such culprits as sore losers instead.

“I think all managers prepare their players to win but there are different styles and different ways to win. You must analyse which is the correct way and which is not the correct way,” Pellegrini added.

“A lot of media here say these are mind games – intelligent mind games. For me, when you don’t win and then start to criticise, I can’t accept that.”

Man City are 1.46 to defeat Burnley (7.77) with the draw at Turf Moor 4.23.