Nigel de Jong has insisted there is a strong feeling of togetherness at Manchester City despite the increased media scrutiny.
Reports have suggested there might be disharmony in the camp following a recent on-field row between Vincent Kompany and Emmanuel Adebayor.
There was also a similar incident involving Yaya Toure and James Milner, while Roberto Mancini's future as manager has been questioned too following some poor results.
A number of City players have stressed that there are no divisions in the squad and De Jong insists they are coping with the added pressure that comes with expectation.
"Everyone in the team knows the spotlight is on us this season," he said in the Daily Express.
"The way people spoke about City five years ago was not the same as it is today, and we all know that. So everything gets a little more exaggerated than at other clubs.
"But we just have to be stronger as a unit and keep performing like we did at West Brom on Sunday.
"Everybody is having their say on City, everyone has been focusing on us and obviously we have not had the best results. Three defeats is not the standard expected at City now.
"But the players and the staff all know what is going on in the team - and that's the main thing.
"The whole squad is together and at full fitness, so we are at our strongest. We talk to each other and say, 'This is it!'"
City ended a run of three straight defeats by winning 2-0 at The Hawthorns on Sunday to boost confidence ahead of the Manchester derby in midweek.
"The win at West Brom proved a point, that we are still a strong side," said De Jong.
"We take confidence from the way we played, and it also showed the players on the bench that the level has to go up, just to get in the team. If we can build on that it would be great.
"The hunger is there, in the players and the staff, and we are still sticking together as a team. We have to be like that in every game."
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