I think Mangala & Otamendi are miles better equipped for the Premier League than the other players we signed since Lescott was declared out of favour, who are either too slow, too wussy or both, but it's not easy coming to this league, especially under a manager like Pellegrini, & imo they have both been pretty much chucked in at the deep end, without much help & it's damaged their game.
No guarantee it wouldn't happen to Laporte or Stones, even under a different manager though.
Every single player or manager who comes to the Premier League tells anyone who will listen, how it's completely different, yet folks still don't seem to believe them for some reason.