Manchester City boss Mark Hughes is convinced his players are up for their derby clash at Manchester United this weekend.

He told City's website: "Sometimes teams seem beaten before the game. You look at the teams going there, and sometimes you see them in the tunnel and you think that it's not going to be an easy time for them this afternoon.

"Even in Europe, you sense that some of the teams are actually beaten before they get there, and I'm sure it happens in the Premier League as well. You have to go with a belief that you can perform well as a team.

"I certainly don't see that being a problem at the weekend because we are playing with confidence in every game - we are strong, and that's reassuring for everybody. We know we can cope with the intensity of the game.

"There are many elements that come together to get a good result, and they all have to come together when you play one of the top sides. The confidence comes from winning and knowing you can stand up to the challenge. I think we are at that point now."