Mancini offers case for the defence Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini believes his side are still paying the price for a fractured pre-season. City head into Sunday's Premier League encounter still searching for the form that saw them crowned Premier League champions last season. The reason for their difficulties is not hard to spot. From having the top flight's best defensive record, City suddenly look vulnerable. Including the Community Shield, the Blues have conceded 11 goals in six games so far this season, culminating in the three at the Bernabeu on Tuesday that cost them a famous Champions League away win over Real Madrid. It took City 13 games to reach that number last season. And Mancini is certain he knows why there has been a change. "For two years we were the best defence in the Premier League," he said. "This year we have been average. "Probably the big problem was we didn't get to work properly in pre-season. Since then we lost some players and have had an international break. "But if we are going to improve, we need to work." Joleon Lescott paid the price in midweek. Good enough to start both England's World Cup qualifiers earlier this month, the 30-year-old was left kicking his heels on the bench in Madrid as Mancini preferred teenage Serbian Matija Nastasic. It seemed like a significant move. Yet Mancini insists it was not. "No," he said. "We have played six games this season and all the players have played two or three. "The problem was because we started pre-season in a different moment. "Joleon came back very late. He is an important player for us but we have 23 good players. Sometimes I can change them." Mancini accepts Sunday's game will offer a decent guide to his team's present situation. After their own tricky start, Arsenal have hit form. Whereas City struggled at Anfield, and required a large slice of good fortune to snatch a draw, the Gunners cruised to an easy away win at Liverpool. Immediately after the international break a Southampton side City were behind against on the opening weekend of the season had six goals slammed past them by Arsene Wenger's men. Rather than the departures of one-time City target Robin van Persie and Alex Song signalling the death knell for Wenger and his team, it actually seems to have released them. Santi Cazorla has already proved to be an outstanding purchase, while Germany frontman Lukas Podolski has confounded gloomy pre-season predictions about his contribution. Arsene Wenger feels there is plenty more to come from Arsenal this season - and he expects to see how their appetite corresponds to their ability in Sunday's clash. The Gunners have responded well to the #24million sale of captain Robin van Persie to Manchester United with an unbeaten start to the new campaign, which has included a battling Champions League victory in Montpellier earlier this week. But Wenger insists his squad - boosted by the summer arrivals of Santi Cazorla, Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski - can step up a level as they prepare for a stern test of their ambitions at the Etihad Stadium. "I have no doubt about the desire and hunger of my squad. It will just tell you how strong we are at the moment," said Wenger. "I believe we are quite strong, but we have some room for improvement. "All is not perfect, but the signs we are giving are very good and very strong. "The hunger is massive in this squad. They want to do well, they are focused and want to win. "We want to continue to improve." Wenger accepts that while the title may not be on the line this weekend, the chance to strike a mental blow to City's aspirations of a successful defence of their crown is. "It is the beginning of the championship and you know that this game can have a big influence on the belief of both teams, so who will have the upper hand has a psychological advantage," Wenger said. "On that front it's a very exciting game and while it is still very early in the season, already it is a very important game for me." Wenger is expecting another close contest at the top of this season's Barclays Premier League, no matter what the leading sides may achieve in Europe. City went down 3-2 away at Real Madrid in midweek. "Manchester City didn't win the championship last year by 10 points," Wenger said. "It was in the last two minutes, so it was very, very tight, and I think it will be very tight again this year." Arsenal must do without goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny because of an ankle problem. Vito Mannone has proved an able deputy so far this season, keeping two clean sheets.
Source: PA
