Manchester City players want manager Roberto Mancini to ditch his back three plans.

Micah Richards suggested after defeat at Ajax that City's players had felt unprepared.

And though Richards is now known to regret his honesty, it is very much the case that his defensive colleagues would prefer to see a commitment to a four-man defence from their manager, says the Daily Mail.

While Joleon Lescott's relationship with Mancini is being severely tested by the fact the England man knows he is no longer first choice, Clichy was also left frustrated at being asked to play three positions in one half at Ajax.