Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is happy leaders Chelsea are still within touching distance.
The Chilean knows that, with Manchester United to come at the Etihad on Sunday, his team are fortunate to be only six points behind Chelsea.
"This year maybe we are playing in irregular form," he said. "Maybe some parts of the game are well, and others not so well.
"We are always clear that we need to improve and we are thinking about the best way to do it.
"It's very difficult to analyse the whole of last season and compare with just some games of this season. Last year we had one point less than we do this year. We didn't start so well as I wanted last year either.
"I think it's important to have some clean sheets. As a team you play easily or you play with more trust when you don't concede any easy goals at the beginning.
"But we must improve in general, not just the defending. We must create more chances, we must score more goals. We are working on that and I am sure we will return to be the same team we were in the most important part of last season."
