Pellegrini: Man City not in crisis

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has dismissed talk of a crisis ahead of Wednesday's trip to Stoke City and insists he is not feeling under pressure.

The Premier League champions are without a win in the league since New Year's Day and had to rely on a stoppage-time James Milner free-kick to snatch a draw at home to Hull City at the weekend.

However, Pellegrini stressed that his side are only one point worse off this season than compared to their respective points tally last term, when they won the league, and maintains that there is no crisis at the club.

"I never feel pressure," said Pellegrini at his pre-match press conference.

"It has been the same the last two years, the only pressure is my own pressure, the pressure I make on myself when I don’t think the team is playing well.

"We are in a normal position, we’re involved in the Champions League, if we win tomorrow I think we are just one point less than last season.

"We have a lot more important things to think about than pressure. I don’t feel any pressure from inside the club or from outside."

City can look forward to a 10-day break after their clash with Stoke, having been knocked out of the FA Cup by Middlesbrough in the fourth round, but Pellegrini is expecting a tough test.

"We have 10 days after this but it's important to think game by game," he continued. "We have to win against a strong team.

"They are a very good team. Especially playing at the Britannia – last season we just won 1-0 at home and drew away.

"The whole squad is fit. We are going to go and try to win three points as we always do away from home."