The Holland midfielder is looking for an improvement on Sunday when they face npower Championship side Reading in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup following a 2-0 defeat to Dymano Kiev in the Europa League on Thursday
De Jong said: "We have a lot of individual qualities in the team but it takes time to get together as a team."
However he is convinced City have enough about them to reach the last eight of the European competition.
"You have to be confident. They were at home with their 12th man and now we hope to get our 12th man, our fans, to help us win the second game," said the former Hamburg midfielder, who could return to the team after an ankle injury.
"They were a good team and were waiting for the counters. They played defensively and waited while we played our game."
De Jong added: "This was a good lesson for us to see how teams like this can play.
"It is common for teams from the east - the Moscow teams are similar, playing in defence and then hitting you on the counter.
"We have to take that lesson into the next game."
Source: PA
Source: PA