Stoke V Man City - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.Pellegrini upbeat despite tough runManchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is confident he can withstand the growing pressure as his side's title bid wavers.The champions have slipped seven points behind Chelsea at the top of the Barclays Premier League after a dismal run of results.City have not won in five games in all competitions, a sequence which included an FA Cup defeat at the hands of Championship side Middlesbrough.Pressure is growing on Pellegrini - and one report has even claimed City are monitoring Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone as a potential successor - but the Chilean insists he cannot feel it.The 61-year-old, speaking at a press conference to preview Wednesday's trip to Stoke, said: "I never feel pressure, I have repeated the same answer for the same question for the last two years."The only pressure is my own pressure that I make myself when I don't feel the team is playing well."I think we are in a normal position, we are involved in the Champions LeagueIf we win t[on Wednesday] we will have just two points less than (the same stage) last season."We have a lot of things to think about, more important than pressure
I don't feel any pressure inside the club or outside."Despite that, there is a feeling the heat is on as City prepare for a vital midweek trip to the Britannia Stadium.Stoke's form contrasts with that of City, with the Potters having won six and lost just one of their last nine games.They also won at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season and are unbeaten in their last six home league games against City.Pellegrini said: "They are a very good team, not only at this moment - they are always a very difficult team, especially playing at the Britannia."But we are going to go as we always do when we play away, to try and win the three points from the first minute."City will be without Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony, who are yet to return following their success with Ivory Coast at the African Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea
Otherwise Pellegrini will have a full squad to select from.The absence of Toure has again been keenly felt.City have not won in the league without their talismanic midfielder this season, with Saturday's last-gasp draw against Hull the sixth such occasion.Pellegrini said: "He is a very important player, and it is very important to have Yaya back and play with the team
But we don't just depend on one player
We must win without him."Stoke boss Mark Hughes faces City without another star name he has hailed as "a game changer".Hughes' injury woes are mounting as midfielder Stephen Ireland faces around a fortnight on the sidelines with a hamstring problem that forced him off late in Sunday's 1-1 draw at Newcastle.Ireland is joined on the sidelines by Marc Wilson (groin), another casualty from the trip to St James' Park, along with captain Ryan Shawcross (back), Erik Pieters (hernia), and long-term duo Bojan Krkic and Peter Odemwingie (both knee).Marko Arnautovic, who missed the clash with the Magpies, is also a doubt with an ankle injury.Hughes, though, knows former City star Ireland's loss will be felt as he said: "It's a blow for him as well as the team."He'd come in and made an impact, which tempered the loss of Bojan because there was a bit of doom and gloom obviously."Unfortunately injuries have been the story of his season because he was our best performer in pre-season and he looked like he was going to start very strong."He was playing well, but unfortunately went out through injury, and then he came back in, did okay, but was then out again."It's a shame for him because he has that vision and creativity you need at Premier League level."You need game-changers and players who will make a difference and Stephen is one of those."Hughes knows Ireland will be particularly disappointed not to take on City on Wednesday, adding: "You always want to do well against your former club, whatever level you're at."When you face your former club you want to show everyone there is life still in you and you are doing well at other places."I was certainly like that as a player, and Stephen will be no different."It's disappointing he's out, but he will be back in a couple of weeks
It's nothing too serious."Hughes, meanwhile, has confirmed he is closing in on signing a new contract with the Potters."We've had further discussions and got down to the detail of it," said Hughes."They're ongoing, with a willingness on both sides to get something done sooner rather than later, certainly from (my) point of view."So yes, there's progress and it's going well."
Source : PA
Source: PA