MANCHESTER -- Manuel Pellegrini has apologised to Stoke City for suggesting they played like a "small team" when they won at the Etihad Stadium in August.
The Manchester City manager has moved to clarify his comments after admitting his own side did not create enough chances in their 1-0 defeat and praised the Potters for their performance.
Pellegrini was frustrated when Chelsea drew 1-1 in Manchester and branded them a "small team" before comparing their defensive approach to Stoke's.
But the Chilean backtracked, saying in a news conference: "I want to clarify. They played very well here and I didn't think they were a small team. It was our fault not to have chances.
"It is the third time we played against Stoke and we only scored one goal in three games."
City scored 156 goals in all competitions last season but failed to find the net at home against Stoke and only mustered one goal apiece against Chelsea and Roma.
But Pellegrini denied that opponents have worked his side out, adding: "No, I don't think that. At this moment we have one point more than [at this stage of] last year and last year they didn't know the way we played."
Yaya Toure was criticised for his performance in Tuesday's 1-1 Champions League draw against Roma but Pellegrini insisted it is unfair to focus on any one individual.
He added: "I think that when we play well, it is because the most important players of the team play well and when we play bad, it is because the whole team plays bad.
"I don't think we should single out one player because I don't think this team depends on one player."