Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says Aston Villa will make it difficult for his side when the two teams face each other on Saturday.
The Citizens, still without Samir Nasri, face Paul Lambert's men knowing that they desperately need to reduce the five point gap from leaders Chelsea but the Chilean insists his players have to be fully focused on the job.
"Aston Villa started very well, maybe in the last two games they are not doing so well, but I am sure that if they play as they did before than it will be a very difficult game," the manager said during his press conference.
"I remember that [last year against Aston Villa] was a game that we played very well but it was similar to what happened against Cardiff. We lost both games 3-2.
"After that we improved a lot playing away and I hope playing those games last season will be good experience, so tomorrow we can play with 100% concentration and intensity that you need to win those games.
"Aston Villa have special players and they are normally a team that puts pressure on us for 90 minutes.
"But we have important players too so we can react to it, try to work in attack as we always do, and concentrate more on defending because we need a clean sheet. In the last three games we conceded five goals which is too much for me."
Midfielder Yaya Toure has been criticised for his early season form but Pellegrini says the focus should be on the whole squad and not on individual players.
"I think Sergio is 100%, maybe the same as Yaya. I don't think you should criticise one player," said Pellegrini.
"Sergio has scored five goals at the moment, we know he is such a good player so he can score 10 goals, but I don't think he is in a bad moment or not 100%. I am sure he will continue to show that this week.
"We have just one player injured, that is Samir Nasri, all other players in the squad are fit.
"Both Fernando and Nastasic are OK."