Mancini not ready to concede title

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is confident his side can still claim their first Premier League title.

City could face an eight-point deficit by the end of the weekend, with Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United hosting struggling QPR before City face a tough trip to Arsenal.

However Mancini still believes that his team can pip their rivals to the crown, if they do the ‘maximum’ in their remaining seven games.

“We can’t think this now. We should think we can win the title – seven games to the end, with one derby to play at home. I think we can win this title,” he said.

“Last year we did 71 points – now we are at 71 with seven games left.

“I think we should do the maximum we can do in seven games and then after we will see.”

Sunday’s opponents Arsenal were defeated by QPR in their last outing, despite having won their previous seven league matches.

And Mancini hopes Mark Hughes’ men can cause another upset when they visit Old Trafford in order to blow the title race wide open again.

“It was a surprise for me, I didn’t think this – Arsenal played the last seven games and they won all that they played. QPR probably did a good game,” he said.

“Sunday for us will be a difficult game, playing against a top squad like Arsenal.

“But we should play our game, we should play well, not like against Sunderland. If we play better we can do well.”