Zabaleta delighted with return to Manchester City fold

Pablo Zabaleta was delighted to return to the Manchester City side with a clean sheet against their nearest neighbours and is confident the squad has the depth for the season run-in.

City face Middlesbrough on Sunday before four games in May to conclude the season as they look to secure Champions League qualification for the 2017/18 campaign.

Third-placed Liverpool don’t play again until Monday meaning City can leapfrog the Merseyside club if they can get three points on Teesside.

And while the long campaign has taken its toll on Pep Guardiola’s side, Zabaleta is confident the squad will be ready to end the season on a high.

(Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

“I felt very well after a while out of the team. It is never easy when you are not involved in the team during a certain period of time, you feel the lack of pace, but in general terms I felt well.

“We just have to rest and try to recover as soon as possible. We are into the last month of the season.

“The season is facing its end and we are beginning to feel the huge amount of games we have played but we have a squad large enough to face these final games in a good condition.”