Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes his squad proved they are not over-reliant on leading scorer Sergio Aguero after a superb Champions League win against Roma in the Italian capital secured their place in the last-16 of the competition.
City's Champions League ambitions appeared to be shattered after a home defeat against CSKA Moscow last month, but victories against Bayern Munich and Roma reignited their Champions League dream and the latter of those two wins was achieved in the most trying of circumstances.
Captain Vincent Kompany, midfield leader Yaya Toure and Aguero all missed the Roma game, with midfield creative dynamo David Silva only playing a bit part role as he returns from injury, but goals from Samir Nasri and Pablo Zabaleta secured the victory City craved.
"Trust was the key," Pellegrini told Sky Sports. "I spoke with the players before the game and we said that against Roma in Manchester, we played out worst game of the season. We played the worst game of the season, we drew. So I said that playing the way we did in the last few weeks, we had to win and we did it.
"I don't want to complain about the players who are not in our team. To play without Kompany, without Yaya Toure, without Silva and without Aguero is a difficult for a team.
"You cannot play exactly the same without them, but I think this team deserve a little more credit than maybe the press always give us. They say it is just Sergio and if Sergio is not play, we cannot qualify.
"I trust this squad and we are pleased with our performance. We are pressing well, we are playing well with the ball, so I think we are getting similar to the team that won the [Premier League] title last year.
"We are a solid team. All the team worked together without the ball and also all the team played well with the ball. Before this game, I had a lot of trust that we could do well against Roma and fortunately, we did it and we played very well.
"Now we are finished with the Champions League, we have qualified. We can think about this in February. Now we think in the Premier League. We are just three points behind Chelsea and we have to play four games in December."
Meanwhile, Pellegrini offered a positive update on the fitness of Kompany, who was a late withdrawal from the Roma game with a combination of fitness concerns.
"I hope he will be back on Saturday," added Pellegrini as he looked forward to a Premier League clash against Leicester. "It was a risk for him to play because he has a problem with his hamstring and his calf. As I have said before, I believe in this squad and it was better for him not to play today."