Manchester City midfielder James Milner insists he's happy playing for manager Roberto Mancini.

Milner defended City Mancini against claims he is too aloof and detached from his players, fostering the perception of a lack of unity.

"I think that's pretty much the way it is at every club, to be honest," he said. "The manager will have a laugh and a joke when he's on the training ground and we'll do the work, but the manager always has to be detached.

"The staff will get involved and obviously we've got [Brian] Kiddo and [David] Platty and people like that, who get more involved in the banter.

"But, from my experience, it's always pretty much like that - the manager is the boss and what he says goes. You have to keep that distance, but it's not like he ignores the players or doesn't speak to them."