Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini said his side was entering the international break dissatisfied with its start to the season following a surprise 1-0 home defeat by Stoke City.

City was well short of the form that delivered the Premier League title to the Etihad Stadium last season, falling to a fine second-half goal from former Man United forward Mame Biram Diouf in Saturday's game.

Pellegrini confessed his target had been to reach the international break with a maximum return from City's opening three games; an aim that seemed well within its grasp following an impressive win over Liverpool in its last home outing.

"It is always serious to lose three points at home," he said. "It was very important for our team to try and win nine points before the international break.

"It is not good to start this break with a defeat but these types of games happen once a year and it has happened to our team. We will continue playing and working the same way we are doing now. Exactly the same."

While goalkeeper Joe Hart appeared to allow Diouf's shot to pass between his legs too easily, Pellegrini refused to blame the England international but he did admit his team had lacked its usual creative spark.

"I don't analyze players in particular," said the Chilean when asked about Hart's attempt to save Diouf's effort.

"I analyze as a team and, as a team, they all could have done more. We were very patient and tried to create space but Stoke defended very well. We couldn't create space and had a bad day in our creative play.

"I didn't think we could lose this game 1-0. It was too easy, the way they scored their goal: a counter-attack from a corner in their own box, and (Diouf) ran 70 meters to score the goal.

"In these games you have to be patient and try to create space until the last minute."

Diouf struck just before the hour with an extraordinary solo goal that saw him sprint from deep within his own half into the City area, where he beat Hart.

It was Stoke's first victory at City in 34 years and only the second time in its past 71 home Premier League games that the defending champion had failed to score.

Former City manager Mark Hughes paid tribute to Diouf, who was brought to English soccer by then Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson five years ago, but failed to make a mark at Old Trafford.

"I'm really pleased for Mame," Hughes said. "He's come to the club and we've been delighted with what he's shown us in games and in training.

"He's a striker and he wants to make an impression as quickly as possible and obviously that means scoring goals. He's probably been a little bit hard on himself the couple of games he's played for us but you can see he gives us something we didn't have last year: pace and power on the break."

(China Daily 09/01/2014 page23)