Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry admits teams are now raising their game against them this season.

Barry says he's noticed a difference in how teams approach them as defending champs.

The 31-year-old said: "It is a strange feeling having won the title last year and coming back. For a lot of the players it was the first title they had won, including myself.

"It's important - you need that desire, that work attitude to produce what you have done again but you are playing against teams week in, week out who are desperate to beat the champions.

"They are trying a bit harder than they were last season, they're playing the best team in the country. They are desperate to put one over you and that is what we are facing at the minute."