Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has talked up the importance of his side's visit to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, following the club's recent defeat at home to Arsenal in the Premier League.

The current league champions lost out to goals from Santi Carzola and Olivier Giroud at the Etihad Stadium, with Pellegrini now suggesting that City will need a result against the Blues at home if they want to recover their title ambitions.

"We still have to play against Chelsea so it will be a very decisive game," said the Chilean coach, according to The Guardian.

"We will try to win that game to close that gap again. The game we must play at Stamford Bridge is a very important game. We must close the gap to two points.

"I hope we are going to recover and play the way we are playing so far."

City currently trail leaders Chelsea by five points in the league standings.