Roberto Mancini has offered up a myriad of reasons for Manchester City's lacklustre form this season, the latest that winning the Premier League title drained them.
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City overhauled rivals Manchester United on the final day of the 2012/13 campaign to claim their first title in 44 years.
But unlike last term's performances, with the Citizens showing a good dose of class and ruthlessness in their domestic outings, Mancini's men have struggled to dominate opposing teams this term.
The Eastlands outfit will now head into Sunday's must-win clash at home to third-placed Chelsea possibly trailing United by 15 points in the title race.
Mancini reckons his side have always been committed to winning this season, but believes they've also likely felt the strain of being English champions.
The Italian said: "I think the players always play 100 per cent.
"I don't think they play just 50 per cent, but this can happen with a team like us, that for 40-odd years didn't win a title.
"The year after a team wins a title, it could be that you don't play like when you won the championship, without the same intensity. Maybe you think, 'Okay we are strong, it's enough to play'.
"This can be normal, but I think the players always play at 100 per cent because they want to win the title.
"Until now, I think United have been better than us, but I think the only difference is that we didn't score enough goals."
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