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Barry denies City rift talk

Gareth Barry claims the Manchester City players are on the same wavelength © Getty Images

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Gareth Barry has leapt to the defence of Roberto Mancini, with the England international insisting the dressing room is united behind the Manchester City manager.

A shock defeat to Wolves at the weekend followed a loss to Arsenal the previous week and piled pressure on manager Mancini. Vincent Kompany and Emmanuel Adebayor were seen arguing on the pitch on Saturday and reports on Monday claimed the Italian had lost the dressing room.

Mancini emerged from training to suggest talk of rifts was "rubbish" and Barry has insisted the players are pulling in the same direction.

"The truth is that there is a group of players working together, working hard and working for the manager, trying to do the right things," Barry told the club's official website. "Everyone in that dressing room and that training complex wants to do their best for Manchester City Football Club.

"We were very disappointed to lose at Wolves but we know we are not in a desperate position. It is important that we work harder and prove doubters wrong

"As a group of players we let the club and the fans down at Wolves. We are sorry for that but it is only one result and as a team we are now desperate to put that right. The best way of doing that is on the pitch with wins, starting on Thursday in the Europa League."

Barry found himself in hot water after being caught on camera partying with students on a recent trip to Scotland with a couple of team-mates and the midfielder has apologised for his actions.

"I regret that, it was naive of me. It shouldn't have happened," he said. "I have apologised to the manager; we were in the wrong but that is in the past now and we are only looking forward."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.