Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini insists he is not feeling the pressure despite his side’s recent slump in form.
Manuel Pellegrini: Not feeling the pressure
The defending Premier League champions are now seven points behind leaders Chelsea and have not won in five matches in all competitions, including an FA Cup fourth round defeat at home to Middlesbrough.
City have the chance to end their disappointing run when they face Stoke at the Britannia Stadium on Wednesday night and despite falling off the pace in the title race and dropping out of the cup, Pellegrini claims he is not affected by external pressures and still sees cause for optimism.
"I never feel pressure, I have repeated the same answer for the same question for the last two years,” he said.
"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 League. If we win 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."
In contrast to Manchester City, Stoke are one of the league’s form teams at the moment, with Mark Hughes’ side having won six and lost just one of their last nine games.
The Potters were 1-0 winners when the sides met at the Etihad Stadium earlier in the season and will offer a tough test for City as they look to return to winning ways.
"They are a very good team, not only at this moment – they are always a very difficult team, especially playing at the Britannia,” added Pellegrini.
"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."