Mancini: I want more players!

Manchester City's three-year spending spree may be fast approaching £400 million, but they blew the chance to open a top-flight campaign with five straight victories when Fulham came from 2-0 down to draw Sunday's game at Craven Cottage.

The result was the first blow to the visitors' title hopes and, coming four days after they made their Champions League bow, it cast doubt on their ability to cope with the dual demands of domestic and European football.

And manager Mancini bemoaned his inability to rest the likes of Yaya Toure and Gareth Barry with James Milner and Nigel De Jong currently sidelined through injury.

Asked if that meant he did not have enough players, he added: "We are lacking at this moment because we lost two midfielders.

"I don't have players at the moment. I can only change the fullbacks. I have only two midfielders, because James and De Jong have injuries."

Mancini also appeared to admit his players lacked the mentality of champions after watching them waste numerous chances to kill off opponents for the third time in eight days.

"What team comes here against Fulham in London and has over 70 per cent of ball possession?" he added. "We had the same problem against Wigan at home. We had 15 chances in the first half and we scored only one goal.

"It doesn't always go well if you don't score, if you don't close the game."

Mancini was unhappy with the way his star-studded attackers defended, too, accusing them of shirking their responsibilities.

"For 10 minutes, we defended with five or six players. It is not good enough," he said. "I'm not angry. I'm just disappointed because we conceded two stupid goals."