Champions Manchester City must see off lowly Aston Villa to make last weekend’s win over Chelsea count, according to manager Roberto Mancini.
City beat the London club 2-0 in the first of their 12 remaining must-win games in their struggling pursuit of leaders Manchester United.
But Mancini warned his side must dispatch Villa tomorrow night, or the three points will count for nothing.
“If we don’t beat Aston Villa, it is like we didn’t do anything against Chelsea,” he said.
“For this reason it is important to beat Aston Villa and afterwards continue to go. The season is not finished. It is impossible we can think it is finished now.
“There are 11 games to the finish. It is our job to play all the games 100 per cent and try to win always.”
The win against Chelsea was their first in four league games – a run which saw them slip almost entirely out of title contention.
The City boss was satisfied with both the result and the performance and hopes his side can build on it in the coming weeks.
“We played a really good game and it was important for us to beat Chelsea,” Mancini added.
“I don’t know if it was the best performance, we played other good games, but we played really well.”
As for the title race, Mancini’s stance on the subject remains exactly where it has been for weeks – it’s not over yet.
He said: “I was not strong in mathematics in school, but with 11 games to play – 33 points – everything is possible.
“Last time we won the title from six games to go, eight points. I think everything is possible.”
Gareth Barry is expected to return to face his former club, but captain Vincent Kompany should remain sidelined with his troublesome calf injury.
Image courtesy of BBC Sport, via YouTube, with thanks.
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