Pablo Zabaleta has provided the case for the Manchester City defence, responding to claims by CSKA Moscow winger Ahmed Musa that the Premier League champions are "very weak" at the back.
Right-back Zabaleta believes City boss Manuel Pellegrini can pick from some top-class defensive players, but admitted that City's adventurous approach means opponents are given a chance.
He was rested for Saturday's 4-1 win over Tottenham -- when goalkeeper Joe Hart saved Roberto Soldado's penalty and made several other stops -- but he is expected to return for Tuesday's Champions League game against CSKA.
Nigeria international Musa had said: "We know their weak point -- they are very weak in their defence -- so we are going to try to do our best to work against that."
But Zabaleta responded by telling a news conference: "I think we have great defenders, great players, and not just the back four.
"Normally we like to be an attacking team and obviously sometimes we can concede some space at the back.
"Most of the games we like to press high and sometimes we can have some space between the lines, but it is the way we like to play and we are not going to change."
City are conceding an average of a goal a game against top-flight opponents so far this season, letting in eight in as many Premier League matches and two in two Champions League encounters.
There will be no fans at the Arena Khimki as part of UEFA's punishment of CSKA for repeated racist behaviour by their supporters, including racial abuse of Yaya Toure last year.
Zabaleta added: "It's going to be a little bit strange. I've never had this experience before, and probably most of the players have never had that situation.
"All we have to do is motivate ourselves, and we know how important the game is for us."