Nasri admits cup angst

Manchester City 1 Stoke 0

Set a target of a trophy a season by chief executive Ferran Soriano, Manuel Pellegrini, whose side stayed within three points of leaders Chelsea with a game in hand with this scrappy victory, are in the FA Cup quarter-finals and, for the time being, are in the Champions League, and have the first chance of silverware at Wembley on Sunday.

But while the final three months of the campaign offers so much, Nasri is still haunted by his experience with Arsenal three years ago. With the League Cup final against Birmingham to come, Arsene Wenger’s side were four points off leaders Manchester United, had beaten Barcelona 2-1 in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie and were in the FA Cup quarter-finals.