Source: Team_Talk
Zabaleta puts derby to one side
Pablo Zabaleta has told his Manchester City team-mates they must put any derby talk out of their minds until next week.[LNB] Any City clash with Manchester United is sure to receive plenty of hype but this year the stakes are even higher than usual.[LNB]City are no longer the poor relations in the clash and with their vastly improved spending power has come equally lofty ambitions, meaning everyone at the club knows they must perform against fellow title hopefuls like United.[LNB]But before Roberto Mancini's side can focus on their neighbours, who visit Eastlands on Wednesday, they must first deal with West Brom.[LNB]A month ago that might have been deemed a straightforward assignment but things have taken a turn for the worse following a bright start to the season, with three defeats in a row at the hands of Arsenal, Wolves and Lech Poznan.[LNB]A fourth would be almost unthinkable for Mancini, who has had to face reports of player unrest as well as questions over the enduring patience of the club's owners.[LNB]All of which means West Brom is now a major match in its own right.[LNB]"The Manchester derby is coming up but right now the most important match is West Brom," said Zabaleta.[LNB]"We must keep our focus on that, because we really need to win it.[LNB]"Sometimes you lose games but losing three in a row is not good because you lose confidence. Now we have to be positive. We have to be ready for West Brom and for the derby next week."[LNB]The Argentinian, who captained a much-changed City side in their 3-1 defeat in Poznan on Thursday, continued: "Now it is about focusing and believing in ourselves because if you see the squad we have, it is full of fantastic players.[LNB]"Everyone here - the players and the staff - know that we have to try and change something, and try to win the next game.[LNB]"The Poznan game is over and our focus now has to be on West Brom. We need to keep our heads up and focus on that."[LNB]Prior to their defeat in Poland, a result which saw them drop from top of Europa League Group A to second, James Milner addressed the suggestions that certain members of the squad were unhappy with the regime at Eastlands.[LNB]He insisted the players were united, both with each other and behind Mancini, and Zabaleta reiterated the point.[LNB]"After three losses a win is vital to get confidence back and I echo what James Milner said before the last game. Everyone has to be positive and try to start winning again. We are all on the same side and just need a win."[LNB]
