Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has called on his players to focus solely on tomorrow's match against Stoke City.

City will face Real Madrid in a mouth-watering Champions League match on Tuesday, but Mancini is aware that they cannot afford to take the Potters lightly.

The champions have not won in their past five trips to the Britannia Stadium, and Mancini is expecting another tough game tomorrow.

"We need to think only about Stoke because we never win there," he said.

"It is a difficult pitch but it is better we have this game now than the end, like last year. Stoke is one of the worst pitches in the Premier League because it is very difficult to play there. They are a strong team.

"For us, it is very difficult, but not only for us, for all the teams. It is important we try to play football like we do. They are very strong, they are tall, but with this kind of football they always stay in the Premier League."

Manchester City have picked up seven points from their opening three games, while Stoke have drawn their opening three games.