Mancini remains defiant on City´s title hopes

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is adamant his side will win the English Premier League title this season.

City are currently locked in an intense battle with rivals United, and they go into Wednesday night’s game with Chelsea knowing a win would see them close the gap on United to just a point.

While the blue half of Manchester have looked on in envy as Sir Alex Ferguson’s men have lifted a record 12 Premier League titles, City have failed to triumph in the top tier of English football for 44 years. However, Mancini is confident that is about to change.

“We will win the title – or we will do everything we can to win the title,” Mancini said.

“Ten games is nothing. We can’t think about this, we need to think positive always. Until now we have had a fantastic Premier League campaign and we need to continue like this.”

Mancini’s men have proven to be the pace-setters in the Premier League this season, and were only recently knocked off top spot by the Red Devils following a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.

And while the Italian is confident in his side’s ability, he believes more than anything that his side ‘deserve’ to win the title after such an impressive campaign.

“I am confident because the players are very strong and they know we have a big chance to win this title,” he said.

“I also think we deserve this after being top for seven months. We were top until one week ago, so we don’t want to lose this chance to win.”

“We have another 10 games, including a derby (at home to United on April 30). We have everything in our hands.”

Carlos Tevez could make a sensational return to the Blues’ squad on Wednesday night for City’s showdown with Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.

It had seemed the AWOL Argentine would not feature for the club again following his bust-up with Mancini. However, the two have seemingly resolved their differences, and the Manchester City boss believes Tevez could be an integral part of City’s push for the title.

“What happened with Carlos was in the past,” he said. “For the last month he has been part of our plans and for the next two months he will be a City player.”

And while the Manchester City boss is eager for Tevez to be back in the first team fold, he is wary not to rush the striker after six months without a first team competitive game.

“I don’t think he can have more than 25 to 30 minutes because after this moment a player like Carlos needs to play, but not for 90 minutes,” he said.

“If he plays 30 minutes or 45 minutes for three or four games, maybe in two weeks he can have 90 minutes.”

“We will decide today whether he is on the bench.”