MANCHESTER -- Manuel Pellegrini has suggested he will not copy Jose Mourinho's way of winning the Premier League after hinting he believes Manchester City's title was secured in more impressive style.
Chelsea will be crowned champions if they beat Crystal Palace on Sunday and Pellegrini congratulated his old rival Mourinho, including Chelsea players and owner Roman Abramovich, for their achievement.
But the City manager said he prefers his attacking approach and will not emulate Mourinho's controversial commentary on other clubs.
The Portuguese has been a regular critic of City, while his attempts to provoke Pellegrini go back to their days managing in Spain. But the Chilean insists his Chelsea counterpart's comments are irrelevant.
"As a manager, you have a different way of thinking about what is professional," the City manager said in a news conference. "I don't think in the same way. But he can do what he needs to win.
"There are so many things he always says that don't matter, about Chelsea or referees or the FA Cup or other managers or other things.
Mourinho had said City should have had a points deduction for failing Financial Fair Play, but Pellegrini responded: "We don't lose points because we don't deserve [to]."
Chelsea have scored 68 league goals this season, whereas City struck 102 times in the Premier League alone, and 156 in all competitions, last season.
While Chelsea have been accused of being boring, Pellegrini feels favourites have a duty to entertain and attack.
"The most important thing is to win," Pellegrini added. "To win, you have different styles of playing. I just said we won exactly the same as Chelsea did this year in a different way last season, absolutely a different way.
"For me, a big team which has possession of the ball, must try to score more goals, must try always to win.
"Maybe for some managers, it's more attractive to score goals. Maybe for another manager it's more attractive not to concede goals. You must ask the fans what they prefer."
Pellegrini had branded Chelsea "a small team" when they drew 1-1 at the Etihad Stadium in September, comments he remembered.
But he also felt Abramovich's investment in new players has been crucial to Chelsea's success, and said they are worthy champions.
"We play against Chelsea I say the impression is we play against a small team with very good players," he explained.
"I think that Chelsea was the best team and deserves to win the title because they been the most consistent team with very good players.
"I congratulate his owner because he is always improving his squad and I congratulate the fans and Jose Mourinho and the players because they deserve absolutely the title."