Pellegrini: Stoke Have Changed Styles

Much has been made of the change in style for Stoke City under former Blues Manager Mark Hughes. The Potters were previously derided for negative tactics under former Manager Tony Pulis, but Hughes has changed the team's style and also attracted big names such as Bojan and Xherdan Shaqiri to what has long been considered an stylish provincial club.

Pellegrini talked about the evolving challenge of playing Stoke.

"We just watched the game from last season and we played very well."

"It's important to be aggressive from the start against Stoke from the first minute. Especially in the first 15/20 minutes, they want to make the difference so it's important to be good from the start.

"Last year they make a mix of styles - they try to not always play with high balls and just with crosses.

"They try to have more possession - by the characteristics of their players they still try to score with crosses but it's a mix now.

"It will be a tough against an important team."

Stoke City is one of only 3  Premier League sides Manchester City has failed to do the league "double" over since the takeover by Abu Dhabi United group- Arsenal and Liverpool are the other two.