Pellegrini warns Mourinho: You don't win the league in December

Manuel Pellegrini has warned Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho not to get carried away with his side’s lead at the top of the Premier League.

Despite losing just once so far this season and earning all manner of plaudits for the quality of their football, Chelsea’s lead stands at just three points following Monday’s hard-fought win at Stoke.

Reigning champions City remain in striking distance despite having failed to hit top gear thus far and will have to cope for another month at least without top scorer Sergio Aguero.

City spent just 15 days in pole position last season but still

secured their second title in three seasons and Pellegrini is again

happy for Chelsea to act as pacesetters this time around.

“We are not thinking about Chelsea. We have our own pressure to win. As I've said before, you never win the title in December, he said.

"At the moment we are playing at a high level. We need to do this

regardless of whether players are injured or not."

City have won their last eight games in a row in all competitions,

while Joe Hart has gone 431 minutes without conceded a goal.

Pellegrini’s men will look to extend their winning run over the

festive period when they travel to West Brom before hosting

Burnley and Sunderland.