Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes his side must prioritise their Premier League campaign over other competitions as their injury toll continues to mount.

Pellegrini believes fatigue due to a heavy schedule and a lack of healthy personnel played a role in City's surprise 2-0 loss to Stoke City on Saturday.

City are currently without a number of key players including Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure.

"We're playing the same players as in the last three games," Pellegrini said.

"Maybe it's the reason we didn't play with the energy that we need to win.

"We cannot protect the players because we must try to win the game to finish at the top of the group.

"If you are asking me what is more important, of course it is the Premier League and to win the title, but you need names to make changes and we do not have those names.

"All those names are injured. In addition, Kelechi Iheanacho is not eligible for Europe.

"We need to look for different ways to improve this kind of game. It's important not to lose the complete view. We were top of the table and in all the competitions that we are playing.

"Of course losing like we did against Stoke, or against Liverpool, is not the way a big team must do it. We must find the reason but the most important reason is injuries."

City are preparing for Tuesday night's Champions League meeting with Borussia Monchengladbach at the Etihad Stadium.