adminDefeat to Everton in their last Premier League outing left City trailing leaders Manchester United by 15 points with nine games remaining.
United have shown no signs of wilting under the pressure of wresting the English title back from their near neighbours and have won their last six league matches.
“It’s over but this doesn’t change anything because we should do our best from now to the end,” Mancini told reporters.
“Every top team, when they can’t win a title, should still try to play well and win all their games.”
Mancini made the same assessment last season when City trailed United by eight points with six games to go before they rallied to snatch the title on the final day on goal difference.
“This is different (to last season),” Mancini added.
“I don’t know how we will finish this season, because we have Chelsea four points behind us and Tottenham five points behind. We have nine games left and for this reason it’s important we keep working hard and well.”
A seemingly crucial part of City’s decline in recent weeks has been the absence of captain and defender Vincent Kompany who has been out with a calf injury since January 26.
In that period, City have dropped 10 points, losing twice and drawing twice, to further cement United’s lead at the top of the table.
Kompany made his return to action with Belgium in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, a decision that annoyed Mancini who had carefully nurtured the defender back to fitness over the last two months.
“He didn’t play for us for 60 days and then he went to play for the Belgium team,” Mancini said.
“I did not agree with this. I think sometimes some managers of national teams should understand the situation. This player plays for the club, and the club, every month, pay his salary. I don’t know if he is okay or not. One week before the international break he was not fit to play for us.”
With a 20th league title virtually in the bag and no more European distractions, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is challenging his side to push for a Premier League points record.
United visit Sunderland tomorrow when victory would open up an 18-point lead, at least until second-placed Manchester City host Newcastle United later.
With nine games remaining, United have 74 points and need 22 more to break the record of 95 set by Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea side in 2004-05. Their own record is 92.
“If we get to 96 points I’d be absolutely delighted,” Ferguson, whose side face Chelsea in an FA Cup quarterfinal replay on Monday said this week while waiting for his players to return from international duty.
“That would be a fantastic season. If we get to that position, we have probably won the league.”
Opponents Sunderland will be without top scorer Steven Fletcher after he suffered ankle ligament damage playing for Scotland, and captain Lee Cattermole, who has had knee surgery, for the rest of the season.
The ease at which United are moving towards the title has surprised many, not least Ferguson who expected a much tougher fight from champions City, Chelsea and Arsenal this season.
“I never thought we would be 15 points clear,” he said. “I expected it to be a really tough fight.”
At least the battle for Champions League qualification appears to be going the distance.
After beating Arsenal a few weeks ago, Tottenham Hotspur looked hot favourites to finish third and leave Chelsea and Arsenal scrapping for fourth but consecutive defeats to Liverpool and Fulham have stopped them in their tracks.
Chelsea are now a point ahead of Spurs with a game in hand while Arsenal are breathing down the necks of their north London rivals who are still haunted by last season’s poor finish which cost them a place in the Champions League.
Tottenham visit mid-table Swansea City tomorrow, hoping that Welshman Gareth Bale, who scored at the Liberty Stadium for his country in midweek, can re-ignite their challenge.
Arsenal, who are four points behind with a game in hand, host joint-bottom Reading, for whom Nigel Adkins takes charge for the first time since being appointed manager.
Chelsea travel to Adkins’ old club Southampton looking for a third consecutive league victory.
Sixth-placed Everton, whose own top-four hopes were revived by their victory over City, are at home to Stoke City.
Wigan Athletic can boost their chances of remaining in the top flight when they take on Norwich City tomorrow. Victory would lift them out of the bottom three above Aston Villa who are at home to Liverpool on Sunday. — Reuters.
Fixtures
Tomorrow (All matches at 5pm unless indicated)
Sunderland v Man Utd (2:45pm)
Man City v Newcastle
Southampton v Chelsea
West Ham v West Brom
Swansea v Tottenham
Wigan v Norwich
Arsenal v Reading
Everton v Stoke (7.30pm)
Sunday
Aston Villa v Liverpool Villa Park (2.30pm)
Monday
Fulham v QPR (9pm).
Online Reporter