Zabaleta conceded the title after admitting a 15-point gap with nine games to go was too much to make up on the Red Devils.
Roberto Mancini's players have struggled with the burden of being champions this season and were also found wanting in Europe.
The Blues failed to make it out of the Champions League group stage and Zabaleta admitted this season has been a wake-up call for them.
"We have to grow as a group and in terms of mentality," said Zabaleta. "People often believe that it's enough to have champions to win.
"But if the big players don't form a united front, you don't go anywhere. We have to learn to be more solid. United have performed better but a 15-point gap is too much.
"The difference is that they have won even when they've played badly, while we have managed to lose even when we didn't deserve to.
With Vincent Kompany injured, Zabaleta has captained City for the past two months and arguably been their best player this season.
Zabaleta said this season was his best for City and hailed the relationship and trust he has with Mancini for bringing out the best in him.
"I really think so [this is my best season]," said Zabaleta. "I'm playing with regularity in terms ofperformances and appearances.
"My relationship with Mancini is excellent. I've known him for three years and understood that you can talk not only about football with him, but also discuss problems about life."
Zabaleta claimed Mario Balotelli's January exit to AC Milan was inevitable and claimed the striker needed the move for the sake of his career.
"I believe that his farewell was inevitable," Zabaleta told Gazzetta dello Sport. "A difficult situation was created.
Zabaleta recalled his own tough start in life and said the tragedy of losing his mother in childhood had made him a stronger character.
"I lost my mother when I was a kid and so I soon learned how to cope on my own. I didn't have any problems integrating here."
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