Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has defiantly outlined his confidence in his side’s title chances despite a post-Christmas wobble that has seen rivals United go four points clear at the summit.
City do have a game in hand on their near neighbours – against Chelsea at the Etihad on Wednesday – and Mancini believes his side will go on and lift only their third ever top flight title, despite an increasing number of doubters.
"We will win the title, we will win. We will do everything to win the title. We need to think positive always," said Mancini.
"Until now we have had a fantastic Premier League, we need to continue like this.
"We play one game a week, we can have more concentration about this."
The Italian is, of course, right to be speaking positively about the title run-in but his desperation to try and convince reporters that everything is ok perhaps tells us the opposite.
City are stuttering, make no mistake about it.
Since a 0-0 draw away to West Brom on Boxing Day, they have suffered defeats to Sunderland, Manchester United, Everton and Swansea.
United meanwhile have racked up 25 league points out of a possible 27 since mid-January, an upturn in form we are all too used to seeing from Sir Alex Ferguson’s men, who are now favourites to lift the title in the
Premier League betting.
It has rekindled old doubts among the City support of the club’s persistent flirtation with brave failure, prior to the billion pound injection by owner Sheikh Mansour. The fear of losing out to United in such agonising circumstances is a consequence many struggle to contemplate – just ask the City supporter who burst into tears after Swansea scored against them last week.
On paper City’s run-in appears tougher, with the Manchester derby on April 30 sticking out as one of the most important derby clashes of recent times – you can bet on the Premier League title race going right to that game and beyond.
However, the return of Carlos Tevez could give them a timely boost as the season reaches its climax. Plus it needs to be said that City have one of the most expensively assembled squad in world football, meaning winning football matches should not be problem.
The issue appears to be in the head rather than on the pitch (or bank balance), which gives United – veterans of many a title run-in – a undeniable advantage.
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