Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has hit out at his defenders for conceding too many goals compared to previous seasons.

City have conceded 11 goals over the six games so far and Mancini has blamed poor performances in pre-season for the current leaky ship.

"For two years we were the best defence in the Premier League," Sky Sports News quotes Mancini as saying. "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.

"If we are going to improve, we need to work."

City can move up to second with victory over Arsenal tomorrow.