Pablo Zabaleta believes Manchester City have silenced the doubters after picking up a stunning victory over Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The Citizens addressed a recent slip in form after beating West Brom on Saturday to end a run of six games without a win.

City, who are priced at 11.00 to win the Champions League outright, continued to get back on track when they overcame group favourites Barcelona to win 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium.

Summer signing Ilkay Gundogan bagged a brace while Kevin De Bruyne fired home a free-kick to cancel out Lionel Messi’s opener for the visitors.

Zabaleta returned from a foot injury to feature in the win over the Catalans and feels Pep Guardiola’s men have now sent out a big message.

The Argentine said: “We had started the season really well, winning all the games in the Premier League and the Champions League, until we had a small blip.

“Perhaps people were talking about a crisis, or saying we doubted our style of play a little bit, but we responded well in the last couple of games.

“Obviously Pep’s way is to believe in hard work, believe in what we’re doing, what we’re working towards, and that’s the best way to go.”

City’s victory helped to avenge the 4-0 loss they suffered at the Nou Camp and the Premier League title challengers now look likely to progress to the knockout stages.

Guardiola’s side sit second in Group C, two points adrift of leaders Barca, with fixtures against Celtic and Borussia Monchengladbach ahead in the coming weeks.