Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini admits his team are finding life tough at the top - but would not expect anything different.

City have led the Premier League since October but have lost their thrilling autumn momentum and been unable to pull away from champions and arch-rivals Manchester United.

Mancini's men endured a particularly tough January as they were beaten twice in the league and knocked out of both domestic cup competitions.

Their latest defeat, at Everton on Tuesday, left them ahead of United only on goal difference.

It has been suggested Mancini and his players could be buckling under the pressure but the Italian insists that is not the case as all teams encounter difficult patches.

He said: "We don't have any reason to have pressure. We never thought that we could win the title in January or February.

"The Premier League you can win at the end of April - not now.

"It is impossible to stay on the top for five months and not have any problems.

"It will not be easy to stay there, especially when you fight against United. United have been used to staying on the top for 20 years."

Mancini took the unusual step of blaming himself for Tuesday's 1-0 loss at Goodison Park.

Despite his dismal record against the Toffees - four defeats in five previous clashes with the Merseysiders - Mancini claimed he underestimated David Moyes' side.

Mancini said: "I always want to do well and sometimes this does not happen.

"Against Everton I probably didn't do my job very well. The players shouldn't have pressure because they have done very well up until now.

"We have scored 60 goals and have the best defence in the Barclays Premier League.

"For us it is important to go our own way and not think about the other teams. This championship depends only on us, not on others."

City are back in action on Saturday as Fulham visit the Etihad Stadium.

Captain Vincent Kompany is determined to get back to winning ways but is taking nothing for granted.

City have already come unstuck against Fulham once this season having been held to a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage in September.

Kompany said: "There is no such thing as a winnable game. You can win every game, or lose every game.

"But if we prepare the way we have to, I still think we are always going to start as favourites, and we need to maximise that."

Aside from their title challenge, City's season continues to be dominated by the Carlos Tevez saga.

The striker, who has been in his native Argentina without the club's permission since November, failed to secure a move away from the club in the January transfer window.

That has raised the possibility that the 27-year-old could return to Manchester, although he is rumoured to be preparing to play in a testimonial in Argentina this weekend.

Mancini claims he does not know what the current situation is but has admitted the player could play in the Premier League again, if he proves his fitness.

Mancini said: "In my mind, now, I have only one situation - Barclays Premier League. Other situations are not important.

"If Carlos comes back here and is fit, maybe it is possible. If not, we go forward with these players."

Mancini was active on transfer deadline day in securing Chilean midfielder David Pizarro, 32, on loan from Roma until the end of the season.

Pizarro, who previously played under Mancini at Inter Milan, will increase options with Yaya Toure still at the African Nations Cup and Owen Hargreaves having so far failed to secure a place.

Mancini said: "We had this problem with some players away, and now we start to play every three days with the Europa League.

"We had this chance with David on loan from Roma and it was good for us because I know the player and I think that could be useful for us in the next four months."

Mancini still hopes Hargreaves can play a part this season but concedes that niggly fitness problems have prevented him from establishing himself.

The 31-year-old former England midfielder joined City on a free transfer last summer hoping to resurrect his career after three injury-ravaged seasons at Manchester United.

Mancini said: "Owen has always a little problem but we hope he can play in the future. We have four months left and I hope he can play."