Pablo Zabaleta has insisted that Manchester City are confident of closing the gap on leaders Manchester United in the Premier League.

The Red Devils currently lead their rivals by seven points, but Zabaleta believes that City can catch Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

"We know that we're up against a rival in United who are in a very good moment," The Mirror quotes the defender as saying. "They have seven points more than us, but that's not much in this league.

"There's still a long way before the title is decided and there's still a margin to lose and recover.

"We hope United have a few games where they lose some points and we continue on this route, taking three points all the time."

United let an eight-point lead slip last season as City claimed their first Premier League title.