Abu Dhabi trip not behind City's Cup exit, says Pellegrini


Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini reacts during their English Premier League soccer match against Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northern England December 20, 2014. REUTERS/Phil Noble

LONDON (Reuters) - Sunning themselves in Abu Dhabi and arriving home 19 hours before their FA Cup fourth-round tie against Middlesbrough was not the reason for Manchester City's shock 2-0 home defeat on Saturday, manager Manuel Pellegrini said.

Arab-owned City jetted out to Abu Dhabi following last Sunday's 2-0 defeat by Arsenal for a week's warm-weather training before arriving back in Manchester at around 2000 GMT on Friday.

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