Mancini: Next two months are vital

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini knows the next two months are crucial to his side’s success this season.

Immediately of concern for the Italian coach, however, will be the consecutive fixtures against top-four contenders Chelsea and Arsenal in the league, with his side travelling to Stamford Bridge on Monday.

Mancini, who has put together a side with formidable goalscoring ability, played down City’s achievements so far, and instead looked towards their upcoming fixtures.

“We have done well but the season is long,” he told reporters on Friday.

“Now we have two difficult games against Chelsea and Arsenal. I have said before the next two months will be important months.”

City remain in the hunt for four trophies going into next year, including the Premier League and now the Europa League, with an FA Cup third round tie against rivals Manchester United next month as well as the League Cup semi-final against Liverpool.

However, one influential player they will have to cope without in the new year will be Yaya Toure, who will be with the Ivory Coast competing in the African Cup of Nations.

“Yaya is an important player for us. We don’t have any other players like Yaya,” Mancini said.

“We will probably lose an important man for one month at a crucial moment.”

“For this reason I think if we do well in January, and we are top after January, it will be difficult to lose.”

“Yaya will finish the African Nations Cup by February 10-11 and then he can come back,” Mancini said.

“It is important in that month that we don’t have players injured. If we don’t have players injured I think we are strong enough for the FA Cup and Carling Cup.”