Manchester City fullback Pablo Zabaleta believes he's nailed why they started the season slowly.
Zabaleta blamed the champions' disappointing early-season form on a lack of fitness in the club's squad.
"From the beginning of the season some of the players were not physically 100 per cent," said Zabaleta. "But now we look so much better.
"It was hard because we probably didn't have enough rest and it wasn't a very long pre-season,' added the Argentine, who played in last summer's World Cup final.
"Now I think everyone has improved. That's why we have got better as a team - and we have to keep playing at this level.
"In the way we want to play, we were lacking some intensity and concentration. It cost us a few points"