Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta says defeat at Southampton was their worst performance in two years.

The Argentine is confident City are ready to bounce back.

"We know we gave probably our worst performance for two years or more last Saturday and it couldn't have come at a worse time because it was such a vital game in the title race and United keep winning so the gap is even bigger than before, but you never know in football," he told City's website.

"I think it was just one of those days when everything went wrong. It's not an excuse, but sometimes when everyone is away for international duty in the days before it is difficult to prepare in the normal way and I think it didn't help us on this occasion."