Manchester: Chelsea are currently going through a torrid period under Jose Mourinho, but Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is not ready to rule out the defending champions from the English Premier League (EPL) title race.
Chelsea are looking like a shadow of the side that clinched the EPL title last year with a string of poor results in both the Champions League and domestic tournaments.
"All managers have a bad moment in their career or in a season. It's normal. So I think, because he's a very important manager, that he will arrange his team. He's already demonstrated what he can do. He was the champion of the Premier League last season," Pellegrini was quoted as saying by the Daily Express on Friday.
"The mathematics always say whether you can still win the title or not. There are still enough points to play for. I am sure Chelsea will be involved in the fight for the title and they will continue to be a very strong team," he added.
"They are not in their best moment but I am sure they will improve."
City found it hard to defend the EPL title after winning it in 2012 and 2014. Pellegrini himself came under a lot of criticism when City's performances started to go downhill towards the end of last season, and knows some of the difficulties Mourinho is experiencing at present.
According to the Chilean, Chelsea's current plight could be due to the mindset of the players.
"Maybe some relax. You don't want it to happen but it normally does. It's difficult to repeat it. All the other teams who couldn't win it last season become stronger because they don't want to go two years without winning silverware," he said.
"But the most important thing is that you have five very strong teams here in England and they can all win the title."
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