Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has called for his side to make a strong start to the Premier League season.

Last season the eventual champions lost four of their first six games away from home - a record the Chilean hopes to improve on.

He told reporters: "We must improve the first part of the season last year. It was very bad, especially playing away. I hope it will not be so bad.

"We had so many good things last year but that maybe is one of them we will not repeat."

City visit Newcastle United on Sunday in their first game of the season.