Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has refused to blame Raheem Sterling for missing two key chances in Tuesday night's defeat to Juventus in the Champions League.
The England international, who signed for City from Liverpool for around £49m in the summer, missed the target inside the second minute of the Group D clash at the Etihad Stadium.
Later in the match, Sterling was on course to score, needing just goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon to beat, but the 20-year-old failed to do so.
City took the lead in the second half due to an own goal from Giorgio Chiellini, but the Italian giants fought back as Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata struck to give the Old Lady a 2-1 triumph.
"I don't think this result is just because of Raheem," Pellegrini told reporters. "We controlled the game and didn't have many problems, but football is like that.
"I expect that when we have chances we must score. The differences are very slight especially against a strong team like Juventus."
City also suffered an injury scare as captain Vincent Kompany was substituted with a calf problem.
Danielle Joynson
