Pellegrini hails squad's collective attitude

Having provided the assist for Borja Mayoral's opener earlier in the game, the midfielder capped off his performance with the decisive moment deep into injury time - a goal that put to bed something of a nightmare week for the players.

“The team has come through a really tough week – we lost two games that we know we shouldn’t lose,” Pellegrini said.

“I think we all agree on that. I’m not going to shy away from that either. That’s the truth.

“But since the start of the season this team has shown it has an identity, and we did that again today. In the difficult moments, despite the mistakes – and I’m not just talking about defence, because if we had taken all the chances we should have done, then perhaps at the back we would have been a bit more comfortable too – we found a way to win.”

Pellegrini was then asked what the basis of that team spirit and identity was.

“The team spirit is built on the fact that we all know that none of us can win the game on our own – and, even more so, no-one can lose the game by themselves either,” he said.

“When one of us makes a mistake it isn’t just theirs, it’s all of ours. So we know that, if we are going to achieve something in the time we have, then we will have to do it together. That’s the mentality we have.”

He added: “As I said before, if the defence makes a mistake it is also because I failed with my job to press higher up the pitch, and so the ball comes through in a dangerous manner where perhaps it could have been avoided.

“Just as I can make a mistake, with a chance or a pass, so can they. We don’t talk about individual errors. That’s not the issue, for me – the key thing is we remain focused on the same target.”

The Italy international was asked how important emerging victorious could prove to be for the team.

“I think it should bring a bit of calm,” he said.

“Seeing as we don’t have another game for a week, it would have been tough to go through a full week, after everything that has already happened, without having won today too.

“I understand the mood there is outside the club, as we all know what the cup and the derby mean to fans. I get that. However, inside the club we have to always make sure we keep working game-by-game, and that’s what we have tried to do. And for now we are third in the table.”