Manchester City’s 1-0 loss at Swansea City allowed Manchester United to move into top spot with their win over West Bromwich, but Sky Blues boss Roberto Mancini insists it’s not a “critical game”.
Luke Moore struck late on for the Welsh club, who had earlier seen Scott Sinclair miss a penalty, as they stunned Mancini’s men.
Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney hit a brace as the Red Devils kept up their stellar form – since their 3-0 loss to Newcastle in early January – to move into top spot on the table.
However, Mancini stayed optimistic in the title race. He said: “It is better to stay at the top, of course, but we are now a point behind. It does not change our target.
“I don’t see it as a critical game. I think this championship will be decided with two games to go.”
Indeed, that match will be the second Manchester derby of the season, when City play host to United at Eastlands.
He added: “We shall fight against Manchester United until the end.
“We have another 10 games to finish this championship. The season is long and the situation changes every week. It is important that we stay together. But this result changes nothing.”
Few people will agree with Mancini’s point of view, that the result changes nothing. It clearly does. They cannot afford another slip up and have handed the initiative to United.
But he’s trying to be upbeat for the sake of his side. What they cannot afford to do, is allow negative feelings after a hard-fought defeat at a venue where few sides have come away with the three points.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: “Swansea did us a favour I suppose, but more important was our own performance.
“I don’t care about being top just now, but I’m happy to be there because only a few weeks ago we were seven points behind.”