Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry has insisted that he and his teammates will "respect" manager Roberto Mancini's change of tactics.

The Italian boss has been criticised for switching the side's traditional defensive back-four system to a back three, which some of the players are believed to have struggled to adapt to.

"The lads said they worked on three at the back as the manager wanted it as a Plan B," The Express quotes Barry as saying. "If the manager wants to go with it you have to do your best and respect it."

Meanwhile, City full-back Micah Richards has revealed that he is likely to be sidelined for four months after undergoing knee surgery.