Manuel Pellegrini launched a strongly worded attack on Mark Clattenburg last night with the Manchester City manager accusing the referee of “wanting” to award Tottenham Hotspur a penalty.

In a tirade that is likely to land the Chilean in hot water with the FA, Pellegrini also claimed that Clattenburg should never have been appointed to officiate the game after the referee was involved in a number of controversial decisions in the corresponding fixture at White Hart Lane in September.

Pellegrini’s anger also extended to his team, whom he accused of being the main problem and not as good as their title rivals with the 2-1 home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur coming after a 3-1 loss against Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium eight days earlier.