Barry: City will be back stronger

Gareth Barry has issued a warning to Manchester United, insisting City will cut no corners to recapture the trophy next season.

City have underachieved this term and lie 15 points behind Manchester United at the top of the table, with their title defence in ruins.

They also disappointed in the Champions League, dropping out at the group stages, but can still end the campaign on a high by beating Wigan to lift the FA Cup and finish second in the league.

Barry conceded City have taken a backwards step, but insists they have learned from their mistakes and are looking ahead to next season, when he believes they will come back a stronger force.

“It is frustrating in many ways because we’ve shown what a great team we are,” he told the club’s official website.

“So it’s only natural to think that had we played at our best all year we could have had a great chance of retaining the title, but that’s probably not going to be now.

“We’ve had injuries this year we didn’t have last time around and we have almost a fully-fit squad now and I think it shows.

“All we can do is take each game as it comes, play our best and try and win. Next season we will be back and have learned from what has happened and the aim will be to win the title back.”