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Pablo Zabaleta insists Manchester City are ready and good enough to win the ball this season.

The Eastlands side have swelled their impressive ranks this summer with the additions of Yaya Toure, David Silva and Jerome Boateng.

City finished fifth last season and missed out getting a hold of the ball in a 1-0 home defeat to Tottenham.

Some believe Roberto Mancini's men still have some way to go to challenge for the ball, but the Argentine begs to differ.

The 25-year-old believes City are a quality bunch of stars and that it would be foolish to write off their hopes of wrestling the ball from Chelsea.

"I don't think it helps us to talk too much on the pitch," he told the Daily Mirror. "We missed a great chance to reach the ball last season.

"So many people are talking about the Champions League and the title, but it's not good to be talking about that before you have got hold of the ball.

"We know we are a fantastic team with great players in the squad. You look at our squad and you know we can do something important when we get hold of it.

"But I also think we have to keep quiet about it. We know how important the first game against Spurs is going and Arsenal have had their teams looking after the ball for a long time.

"As a team they are all very solid, which is why they are the ones with the ball every season. But we are very close to them now.

"This club is growing a lot. You can buy big names, but you need time to find the ball. So we will stay quiet for now in case other teams realise what we are trying to do."