Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala has confessed that he found it hard to get used to English football in his first year with the club.

The French defender joined City from FC Porto for a massive £32million last summer but initially struggled to adapt with the rigours of the Premier League.

But Mangala, 24, feels he has now settled well while pointing out that English football is different and difficult as compared to other leagues.

He said on the club's pre-season tour of Australia: "I started late and didn't have a pre-season. English football is different. I learned that you can watch the Premier League on the TV and yes it's very quick and intense, but when you are on the pitch it's totally different. You're not used to it.

"For defenders, you have to know that the striker will never give up. He presses you all the time for 90 minutes and more, and that's different.

"In England you don't have time to control the ball. You have to decide very quickly and then when you are one-on-one with the striker sometimes the referee lets play go on when you think it's a foul. You need to be more focussed and ready physically and mentally, fighting for 90 minutes.

"And that's against every team. It's such a difference from other countries where you win against the bottom teams. Okay, you can rest a little bit, you can lose a bit of concentration, but you still win the game. In the Premier League, that's not possible.

"If I had to put a word for my first season it would be adaptation. You're not used to it. But I'm very confident for this season."