Boss shifts attention to Chelsea crunch

MANCHESTER City manager Manuel Pellegrini immediately tried to shift focus to next week’s critical clash with Chelsea follwoing his side’s FA Cup humbling by Middlesbrough.

City crashed out of the competition in the fourth round as promotion–chasing Championship side Boro pulled off a shock 2–0 win.

The result raised further questions about City’s decision to return from their warm–weather training camp in Abu Dhabi – where they played a midweek friendly against Hamburg – less than 24 hours before the game.

Pellegrini denied suggestions of complacency, or that travel was a factor in City’s disappointing display.

Much can be put right with victory at Stamford Bridge next Saturday but, after the loss to Arsenal eight days ago, City can ill afford defeat in a game of critical importance.

“I am going to start working on that game,” said Pellegrini, whose side trail the Londoners by five points at the top of the table.

“We don’t have any problem with motivation. I think we are going to work hard and I hope we can win that game at Stamford Bridge.”

The problem for City is that the momentum they built up in November and December, when they won nine in succession in all competitions, has been lost.

Pellegrini’s men are without a win in three, have not kept a clean sheet in seven and have not scored in their last two.