MANCHESTER: Roberto Mancini insists Manchester United will still be favourites for the Premier League title, even if City win Monday’s derby at Eastlands.
United have seen an eight-point advantage slip away thanks to a defeat at Wigan and last weekend’s 4-4 draw with Everton.
A victory will move City level on points with the champions with better goal difference and just two matches remaining.
But while City head to Champions League-chasing Newcastle and then host relegation-threatened QPR, United face matches against Swansea and Sunderland that Mancini has dismissed as “easy.”
City had led the table for five months before their own winless three-match run and Mancini feels that whatever happens on Monday, United should still win a 20th title.
Mancini said: “I think they have more chance than us because we play derby Monday after we play against Newcastle, that will be a very tough game.
“Instead United play Swansea and Sunderland, for them, they will be two easy games. If we win this game, they are favourites.
“I have a big respect for United because for me they are the best team here and maybe in Europe with Barca, Real Madrid.
“(When we were ahead) I used to wait always until the end of the championship because in football we lose seven points in four games, this can happen for the other team. You can lose a point everywhere.” City are hoping for a first league title since 1968 and despite leading for so long, Mancini maintains he will be happy with the club’s progress even if they fail to win the league.
Mancini, who has a year remaining on his contract, saw his team’s first ever Champions League campaign end in the group stages but feels the squad have made progress.
“In the last two years we improve a lot and this is very important.”
Meanwhile, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has paid Roberto Mancini a rare compliment ahead of the crucial derby on Monday.
Ferguson, who is famous for playing mind games with his title rivals, said City had reached a new level under Mancini’s guidance.
Many believe Mancini’s job will come under threat if City fail to win the title after leading the standings for most of the season, but Ferguson said City was moving in the right direction.
“He (Mancini) is second-top of the league at the moment, with the league decider on Monday,” Ferguson said. “That’s progress, it’s a step forward for them. That’s the only way you can measure it.”
City can move ahead of United on goal difference with two rounds left by winning Monday.
“This is the derby game of all derby games. It’s our city rivals and it makes everybody step up a notch in terms of anticipation,” Fergie said. (Agencies)