Ball and Kompany back Rob mentality; EVERTON/MAN CITY.

MANCHESTER City defender Michael Ball has backed Robinho's claim that the side need to find a winning mentality.

Record buy Robinho, who arrived in the summer in a pounds 32.5m move from Real Madrid, wants his new team-mates to develop a different mindset.

City host Ball's former club Everton - one of their major rivals for European qualification - at Eastlands on Saturday, and ahead of the game Robinho's remarks have struck a chord with the left-back.

"We are fine with it," said Ball.

"Robbie has played for one of the best clubs in the world and their mentality is that second is nothing.

"That is the kind of attitude you want as it breeds confidence and that's where we want City to be. We don't want second best, we have got to keep pushing up the league.

"I had that when I was with Rangers and PSV (Eindhoven) - you could lose the league by just a point and it's not good enough."

Midfielder Vincent Kompany agrees with Ball, and said: "I haven't followed the soap opera that has developed since the Robinho interview. What the other players have said about it must stay in the dressing-room.

"But my thoughts are that we should all be desperate to win," he said.

CAPTION(S):

Michael Ball