Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has admitted that his side have missed Mario Balotelli's goal threat in the second half of the campaign.
The North-West outfit, who snatched the Premier League title in the dying minutes of the season last year, sit 15 points behind leaders Manchester United.
While Mancini has claimed that the large margin is unjust, the Italian has admitted that they have been damaged by the loss of Balotelli, who was sold to AC Milan in the January transfer window.
"Mario scored 15 goals last season," Mancini said in a press conference. "This is the difference, the goals we did not score."
City are due to go up against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday.
