Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has reiterated his belief that Chelsea will win the Premier League, despite the champions losing their 100 percent league record at Eastlands on Saturday.
In a largely cagey affair, a solo goal from striker Carlos Tevez was enough to seal the victory and it saw the Citizens move up to fourth place in the Premier League table, just four points behind the leaders.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side had gone into the match having scored 21 goals in their five previous matches to set the early pace this season, but they created few chances against a resolute City rearguard.
Mancini had stated before the game that he thought Chelsea were the best team in the country and that they would win the league “easily”, and despite masterminding their first defeat, the Italian tactician has not seen anything to change his mind.
“I still think they will win it easily because I think they are the best team in the Premier League,” Mancini said after the game.
“Sometimes you might get a result like today. But they are the better team.”
Mancini was aware of the attacking threat that Chelsea had shown in their previous games and made no excuses for denying the Blues the space to exploit any weaknesses in his back four.
“It is not possible for them to score five goals every game,” the City boss added.
“If Chelsea find space it is easy for them to score. But if they don’t have space it is too hard and our players defended very well.
“But we cannot think everything is OK just because we won this game.”
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti applauded his counterpart for his tactical execution and believes City are genuine title challengers, but admitted his players had not played to their full potential at the weekend.
“They used a good tactic to play against us. To play against us they wanted to counter attack and they did some very well. We knew this but from one counter-attack they scored,” Ancelotti said.
“If you play against a good team with a strong defence and you don’t play at your best then it is normal that you don’t score a goal.
“They have fantastic players and a very good squad and they can fight for the title.”
Meanwhile, Mancini has ruled out the possibility of a January move for Everton’s Jack Rodwell and says it will be “impossible” to sign him.
The young midfielder has long been linked with a move away from Goodison Park, with Manchester United reportedly keen to sign him in the summer.
Mancini has confirmed his interest in the player but admits that a deal in the transfer window is unlikely to come to fruition.
“We put English players in the team but it isn’t easy because all the clubs that have English players won’t sell,” Mancini told the Daily Star Sunday.
“I like Jack Rodwell but will Everton sell? Impossible. If I can, I give young players a chance.
“I was just 16 when I first played in Serie A.”
City (4/5 favourites in the match betting) are next in action on Thursday when they host Italian giants Juventus (3/1 to win, 9/4 the draw) in Group A of the Europa League, before hosting Newcastle in the Premier League next Sunday.
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Roy Hodgson has insisted star striker Fernando Torres is not for sale as he aims to rebuild Liverpool after a poor season last time out (Reds 12/1 to win the title).