Manchester City Football Club

• Nickname:Sky Blues
• Founded:1887
• Manager:Roberto Mancini

• Ground:City of Manchester Stadium
• Capacity:47805

Pearce remains defiant

13 Mar 2007 - 09:55:31

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Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce insists the spirit at the club remains good despite their desperate recent form and believes he has the character to weather the current storm as speculation grows about his future.

The City players were booed off the pitch following the FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Blackburn Rovers and go into the Premiership clash with Chelsea only one place above the relegation zone after losing their last four games.

But a defiant Pearce said: "If you lose you know you're under pressure. That applies anywhere. But if you win, all the cares in the world are off for a day. If any flak comes my way, fine.

"Everyone looks to the figurehead of the club to come out with a smile on his face even if he doesn't feel that way.

"But you have to make sure as players you're up for the next game and we're playing the champions on Wednesday.

"I don't think there are splits in the camp, I just think that everyone is frustrated.

"Spirit-wise, the camp is pretty good. The only way to turn around the negativity among fans is to win the next game."

A report in Tuesday's Sun claimed that Pearce could be out of a job by the end of the week.