Manchester City manager Sven Goran Eriksson believes Elano will benefit from a tough first season adapting to the Premier League.

The Brazilian, brought in from Shakhtar Donetsk, has already complained about the long-ball tactics deployed by some opposing teams but Eriksson says it is all part of the learning process.

Eriksson said: “Elano will be better next season as will all the players we bought last summer. If you haven’t played in the Premier League before it can be difficult to adapt.

“Some of the foreigners came in the dressing room and said in perfect English ‘bloody this and bloody that. All these long balls.’ It is hard to play against them.”