Michael Ball insists Manchester City can be happy with their campaign this season - despite their slide since Christmas.

The left-back told City's website: "We had a lot of new players come in to begin with, and expectations were high after the way we started the season. I think we were telling people 'don't get carried away', and possibly teams have got used to our style.

"Maybe we needed to change a bit, and we showed against Chelsea that we can do, but the lads that came in before & during the season have done well overall. This is a very tough league, and it's a long season - there's no winter break for the lads who have come here from overseas, but they have applied themselves really well.

"It's the first season here for many of the squad, and they have performed better than the original expectations. If you look at our position in the league, we have done well and it can only get better next season."