Hamann: City's real pressure

Dietmar Hamann says he has never experienced pressure like that at Man City before.

The former Germany international has a glittering array of medals in his collection after a successful seven years at Liverpool.

He has explained his reasoning after he courted controversy this summer when signing for Bolton Wanderers, before an approach from Stuart Pearce saw him move to City for £400,000.

"That was a difficult couple of weeks, but it happened because I made the decision too quickly after realising I would be leaving Liverpool," Hamann told the Independent.

"I had played with the manager for a few months at Newcastle and when I saw the players he was bringing to City I thought it was the right move."

But it has not been an easy start to life at the City of Manchester Stadium, as the Eastlands outfit made a poor start to the new campaign, and Hamann admits the situation he found himself in before the international break was like no other.

"I wouldn't call playing for titles and trophies pressure, it is nice to be in that position," he added.

"Pressure is when you are at the bottom of the table, as we were before the West Ham game.

"It has not been difficult to adapt because there are still big expectations at City.

"Obviously, you are meant to win things at Munich and Liverpool but if we finish in the top eight here it is a similar achievement to finishing in the top two or three with Liverpool."