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Vieira warns warring City stars

Patrick Vieira played under Roberto Mancini at Inter before joining Manchester City © Getty Images

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Patrick Vieira has warned his Manchester City team-mates that the only way they will end their "difficult period" is by sorting out the problems between players and manager.

Reports emanating from Eastlands in recent weeks have suggested that boss Roberto Mancini is struggling to keep a hold of the dressing room, with certain factions rumoured to be at war with each other.

Conflicts are said to have heightened in recent weeks, as City's results have taken an alarming slump - they have been defeated in their last two league games, against Arsenal and Wolves. In the clash at Molineux, Vincent Kompany and Emmanuel Adebayor had a very public falling-out on the pitch.

But Vieira, who insists that rows are commonplace at all top clubs, has urged his side to pull together and capture the wins required to "keep the peace". "The only way we can win is by being together and we all understand that," he told the Mirror.

"It's a difficult period because from the outside, everybody is trying to create this negativity around the football club. That happened when I was at Arsenal and Inter Milan. What's really important now is that as a football club and a team, we are really strong together, believe in ourselves and go out and win games. By winning games we will keep peace."

Vieira also joined midfielder James Milner by launching a staunch defence of under-fire boss Mancini, who he also worked with at Inter Milan. "It's not good to put the responsibility on the manager. The manager is really concentrated, tactically he's really aware. He's a perfectionist - he expects a lot and gives a lot."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.