Roberto Mancini convinced Manchester City are closing gap on United

Posted Monday, February 14, 2011 by theguardian.com

• 'We didn't deserve to lose,' says manager
• Italian stresses need to win a trophy to change mentality

Roberto Mancini convinced Manchester City are closing gap on United
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes his side are closing the gap on rivals Manchester United.

Roberto Mancini remains convinced that the gap between Manchester United and Manchester City is closing despite the 2-1 defeat that has all but extinguished his hopes of catching and overhauling Sir Alex Ferguson's team at the top of the table.

Mancini paid tribute to Wayne Rooney's winning goal – "all you can do is clap," the City manager said – but he argued that the result was unjust on the balance of play. "In my five derbies against United there is only one time when we didn't deserve to win. Again, we didn't deserve to lose. United are this much ahead [holds two fingers narrowly apart]. They are ahead of us and ahead of the others but just by this much. It's very close.

"We should improve. I have been saying this for six months. But if we can come here and play like this against United then we will be OK. I am very proud of my players and I have told them this. I told the players to go home and have a drink. They should be disappointed by the result, if not the performance. We are very close to United now, very close." The defeat leaves City eight points behind their neighbours, having played a game more, as Mancini's men turn their thoughts to Tuesday's Europa League tie against Aris Salonika in Greece.

The defender Micah Richards said: "I wouldn't like to write it [the title] off now but this was our big chance, I'm not going to lie. If we'd got a point here or even three points, it would have put us right up there. We're not going to write off the league just yet but our main aim was always the Champions League and if we qualify for that it will be a good season."

Mancini added: "United didn't play well in the second half but their players always think they can change the game. This is the mentality that comes when you have been winning things for a long time. I think we need to win one cup, one title, because if we do that then we can change the whole mentality of our team."