Chelsea match excites City boss Mancini
IAN Winrow
Roberto Mancini believes Manchester City’s trip to Chelsea provides
the perfect opportunity to move on from the disappointment of exiting
the Champions League.
City manager Mancini reckons the next two months will prove decisive
in determining the outcome of the Premier League title race. The Italian
saw his side’s lead at the top of the table cut to just two points by
Manchester United after the reigning English champions beat Wolves 4-1
on Saturday.
But City, who have a game in hand over their local rivals, will again
move five points clear if they win at Stamford Bridge.
Rivals
And victory in west London would also leave City a huge 13 points in
front of Chelsea, a team expected to be one of their main title rivals
this season.
That would at least provide some consolation following their
elimination from European football’s premier club competition at the
group stage.
Victory over Bayern Munich wasn’t enough to take City into the
knock-out phase and with a match against Arsenal six days after the
Chelsea clash, Mancini knows they have a great chance to strengthen
their Premier League title claims. “I think it is good to play this
game, it is an important game against a top team,” Mancini said.
Premier
“Up to now in the Premier League we’ve done well, but the season is
long.
“Now we face two difficult games against Chelsea and Arsenal. Then
after that we have to play every three days. The next two months will be
important for us.
“Over the last two weeks Chelsea have improved and they are still a
fantastic team. It will be a good game between two strong teams.
“We go there to win,” said Mancini, bidding to become the first City
manager to take the English title since Joe Mercer’s team won the old
First Division trophy in 1968.
While City bowed out of the Champions League, Chelsea remained
involved following a 3-0 win over Valencia.
Hopes
That victory lifted the mood of the London club although Chelsea
manager Andre Villas-Boas admitted defeat by City could spell the end of
his side’s title hopes.
“There’s no quitting, and there will be no quitting of belief. But 13
points would be a massive gap again.”
LONDON, Sunday AFP |
