Pellegrini defends Abu Dhabi friendly after shock FA Cup exit

Manuel Pellegrini has insisted Manchester City's midweek friendly in Abu Dhabi had no impact on Saturday's shock FA Cup fourth-round loss to Middlesbrough.

The Premier League champions flew over 4,500 miles to face Hamburg on Wednesday, only to arrive back in Manchester on Friday ahead of the competitive cup clash the next day.

Goals from Kiki and Chelsea loanee Patrick Bamford downed City at the Etihad Stadium, with the hosts lacklustre for the majority, but Pellegrini rejected talk of a hangover from the extra match in midweek.

"I don't think the trip made any difference. You can analyse it and think that but I have a different opinion," he told reporters.

"We had six or seven chances to score - after they scored they had another counter attack. We did well before they scored, but they deserved to win - for football reasons and not to do with Abu Dhabi."

Pellegrini admitted City still struggle in attack, but was hopeful of improvements ahead of next week's crunch clash with Chelsea.

"The problem is we changed our style of play," he added. "Our strikers are coming back now but they need time and maybe we all need some time.

"We will now starting working on the trip to Stamford Bridge. I am concerned about the lack of goals and conceding goals at home. We need to try and recover our performance in attack and defence."