Manchester City midfielder James Milner has urged his teammates to deal with the pressure of being champions and improve in the second half of the season.

City recovered from a stuttering run of form to beat Newcastle United 3-1 on Saturday, but are still six points behind city rivals Manchester United.

"We need to keep improving as a team. I think the best is yet to come this season and let's hope we can keep moving forward," Sky Sports News quotes Milner as saying.

"When you're at the top and you're champions, people want to knock you off that pedestal and they'll try anything whether it's on the field or off the field. They are things you learn to deal with.

"It definitely brings you closer together when everyone outside is against you. You have that siege mentality and put that to good use."

City host Reading on Saturday.