Image:David Platt: Thinks City players will benefit from the international break
David Platt has warned Manchester City are still in pre-season mode with much better to come when the Premier League champions hit their stride.
Performances have not been as convincing as last campaign
David Platt has warned Manchester City are still in pre-season mode with much better to come when the defending Premier League champions hit their stride.
City have still taken seven points from a possible nine but Platt attributes some unconvincing performances to a busy summer schedule for his international players.
"There are players there almost still in the pre-season phase but playing games for real," Platt said.
"It's not that we are not playing well but I don't think we are playing as well as we were at the start of last season when we were blowing teams away.
Fitness
"We are not quite there with the squad in terms of fitness, because of the European Championship people coming back.
"We are almost using these games to get minutes into people's legs."
The upcoming international break will give injury hit Gareth Barry and Sergio Aguero time to train and out-of-form David Silva should get some match fitness during Spain's World Cup qualifying campaign.
"You'd like to think by the time we get back through the door in 10 days' time we'll be in position to kick on as a squad."
Manchester City's next Premier League game is September 15 away at Stoke.
