BIRMINGHAM: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is refusing to give up on his team’s Premier League title hopes despite seeing them lose further ground to leaders Manchester United.
The Italian watched his team twice give up the lead in a 2-2 draw away to Birmingham at St Andrew’s here on Wednesday in a match where the hosts ensured a share of the spoils following Craig Gardner’s successful 77th-minute penalty, awarded for a foul on substitute Kevin Phillips by Patrick Vieira.
City now trail local rivals United by eight points having played a game more, a deficit which looks virtually insurmountable given Sir Alex Ferguson’s team have still to be beaten in the league this season.
However, Mancini insists his side must retain their self-belief despite picking up just five points from a possible 12.
“In two or three weeks everything can change but first we must believe in ourselves,” he said.
“A few months ago we were nine points behind Chelsea,” Mancini added. “That’s football, it can change in just three weeks.”
Mancini conceded the gap is currently too great, although City will have the chance to claw some ground back in the Manchester derby a week on Saturday.
“It is too much at this moment. For us now it’s very important that we start playing our football again.
“We will try (to overhaul the gap) but if we play like this it will be hard. We must wake up quickly.”
Mancini accused Phillips of diving to win the penalty and insisted his side should have had one minutes beforehand when Birmingham’s Stephen Carr appeared to handle a James Milner cross.
“I’m very disappointed because we wanted to win There was no penalty. He dived. It was a penalty for us just minutes before.
“We didn’t play well,” Mancini admitted.
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