Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini fended off questions about his future after his side’s dismal 4-2 derby defeat at Old Trafford.

After being joint top of the table in January, City now find themselves in fourth position, 12 points off the summit having played one more match than leaders Chelsea.

Pellegrini’s team are now four points behind United and just five ahead of fifth-placed Southampton with six matches remaining.

“I am not talking about my position,” he said. “It is not important.”

He did admit the blame should lie with him though.

“I always think it is my responsibility, always.”

Indonesia unmoved by FIFA threats

An arm of the Indonesian government has accused FIFA of insulting the country’s sovereignty after the world governing body threatened to ban the Asians over a dispute that has halted the local league.

The Indonesia Super League was suspended by the local football association (PSSI) following Saturday’s matches after a row about the eligibility of two clubs with the Indonesian Professional Sports Agency (BOPI), sanctioned by the Youth and Sports Ministry.

FIFA threatened the country with a ban once again over BOPI’s meddling in affairs on Saturday and said only the PSSI was recognised to make decisions.

“We think that what FIFA have done is an insult to Indonesia’s sovereignty,” BOPI said.

Perth Glory to fight exclusion

A-League club Perth Glory will fight for their reinstatement into the competition’s play-offs through Football Federation Australia’s appeals process, rather than pursuing a court action in the first instance, the team said.

Glory were excluded from the play-offs last week after an FFA probe found they had violated salary cap provisions.

The club responded by announcing they would seek to have the expulsion lifted by a supreme court injunction.

Yesterday, the club said it had suspended its court action.

“The club will exercise its right to appeal via the Federation’s Disciplinary Committee,” it said.

QPR investigating lighter incident

Queens Park Rangers have launched an investigation after Chelsea players were pelted by objects thrown from the crowd in Sunday’s west London derby.

Branislav Ivanovic was hurt when he was struck by a lighter as Chelsea celebrated an 88th-minute goal by Cesc Fabregas that gave them a 1-0 win.

“The club takes the safety of all supporters and players very seriously and are currently reviewing CCTV footage of the aftermath of the goal in an attempt to identify those responsible,” Rangers said.

Bayern’s key duo to miss Porto match

Bayern Munich will be without midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger and Franck Ribery when they travel to Porto for tomorrow’s Champions League quarter-final first leg.

Frenchman Ribery is not yet fully fit following a five-week absence with an ankle injury while Schweinsteiger has had a virus for the past few days.

“Bastian and Franck will not be with us against Porto. That is bitter,” sports director Matthias Sammer said.

Medhi Benatia, David Alaba, Javi Martinez and Arjen Robben had already been sidelined by injuries.

Jerome Boateng, who was rested for Saturday’s 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt due to a minor muscle problem, is back in the squad.

Pioli pleased with Lazio position

Lazio coach Stefano Pioli has told his players not to take the foot off the pedal after thrashing Empoli on Sunday and leapfrogging Roma into second place in Serie A.

The Biancocelesti rolled to their eighth straight victory at the Stadio Olimpico and now have their noses in front of city rivals Roma in the race for automatic qualification for the Champions League.

“(Roma coach) Rudi Garcia is right, this is not the final result,” Pioli said. “We are satisfied with our current position.

“Of course this streak means something, but we only got here by taking it one game at a time and we must not let go of that approach until the end of the season.

“This was the most important week to really show our maturity.”

Stevens hails Stuttgart character

Stuttgart coach Huub Stevens praised the character and courage of his side after they defeated Werder Bremen to move off the bottom of the Bundesliga.

The Swabians moved up to 17th at Hamburg’s expense thanks to a dramatic 3-2 victory over Bremen, a result which dented their opponents’ hopes of qualifying for Europe next season.

Stevens said: “I’ve experienced a lot in my career, but the way the lads performed..... huge credit to the team for showing the character to win the game despite the red card and the late equaliser.

“The team showed a lot of courage and in the end they got the necessary stroke of luck. But we worked for it and that was a result of a concerted effort.”

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