Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has insisted that he is not concerned by his side's defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield.

The Premier League champions slumped to a 3-0 loss at Wembley Stadium on Sunday against last year's FA Cup winners.

Despite the result, Pellegrini is confident that his players will be ready for next weekend's league opener away to Newcastle United.

"These things happen before the season starts. It was not the pace we played in pre-season but I will talk with the players and I am sure we will be ready to start the Premier League," the Chilean told BT Sport.

"I think in the Premier League you have five or six teams who can win the league because all have a strong squad. We must demonstrate from the beginning why we won the title last year."

City start their Premier League title defence at Newcastle next Sunday.