Source: Daily_Mail
Chelsea will win the title, claims Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini
Roberto Mancini has already conceded the Premier League title to Chelsea.[LNB]Mancini's Manchester City side tackle the champions at Eastlands on Saturday with a patched-up side containing just three fully-fit senior defenders.[LNB]It is hardly the backdrop he wanted heading into one of the key games of the campaign, and not one that was anticipated when City were spending in excess of £100million this summer.[LNB] Just too good so far: Chelsea players celebrate during last weekend's 4-0 win over Blackpool[LNB]However, according to Mancini, the result will not have an affect on where the championship ends up this season.[LNB]'Chelsea are the best team in the Premier League at the moment,' he said. 'They are probably going to win the Premier League title easily.[LNB]'They are a strong team, who have been playing together for many years. They have a fantastic manager and they have worked to reach this situation.'[LNB]Chelsea certainly could not have started the season in better form and have registered a perfect 15 points from their opening five games, scoring a hatful of goals in the process.[LNB]You're just too good: Roberto Mancini thinks Chelsea will win the title[LNB]It seems Mancini does feel City are years behind Chelsea at present, even if they are making ground up fast.[LNB]'We must work hard to be their equals,' he said. 'We can be a strong club in one or two years. But we must improve, month after month, year after year.'[LNB]The City faithful might not be impressed by such talk. In midweek the Blues crashed out of the Carling Cup, a competition that many felt was the easiest way of ending a trophy drought that dates back to 1976.[LNB]'With the problems at this moment we couldn't play in four competitions,' said Mancini.[LNB]Given the squad building they have undergone in the last couple of years, few will shed any tears at Mancini's complaints at being short of so many players.[LNB]Yet when he was assiduously piecing together his squad this summer, he did so on the basis he was buying for the future, as well as the present, believing the day would come when City could hold their heads up alongside Chelsea as one of the Premier League's top dogs.[LNB]'We have got strong players but we have also got young players,' he said. 'We have one of the youngest squads in the Premier League.[LNB] Heading for victory: Carlos Tevez scores Manchester City's first goal in their win at Wigan last weekend[LNB]'David Silva and Yaya Toure played in the Champions League for many years, Mario Balotelli won it with Inter, Aleksandar Kolarov and Jerome Boateng are international players. We have bought strong players. When they play together we can change everything.'[LNB]However, Kolarov and Balotelli are out with long-term injuries after playing just one match. Boateng has not even managed that yet after aggravating a knee injury in a collision with an in-flight trolley.[LNB]Boateng has finally managed to get a full week's training under his belt but is badly lacking match practice.[LNB]Yet such is Mancini's desperate need for defenders, down to just three fit ones at the last count, he is among the options to fill the left-back role, along with the equally rusty Joleon Lescott, youngster Dedryck Boyata, James Milner and Gareth Barry.[LNB]VIDEO: Mancini backs Chelsea for title...'Joleon has worked with us for one day. He is not ready to play 90 minutes,' said Mancini.[LNB]'Jerome has been working with us for one week. He is not ready to play 100 per cent.[LNB]'I do not know what I am going to do just yet. I will speak with Joleon and Jerome, but if they are not available I am not sure. Maybe Boyata, but I am not sure.'[LNB]Emmanuel Adebayor should be fit enough to make the bench after a recent spell on the sidelines with a dead leg.[LNB]However, with Shaun Wright-Phillips joining Aleksandar Kolarov and Mario Balotelli on the sidelines with a knee injury, Mancini cannot believe his squad has so rapidly been torn apart.[LNB]'I am disappointed we have all these injuries at the moment,' he said. 'I only have 11 players who are 100 per cent fit.'[LNB] I'm not fooled! Chelsea boss Ancelotti insists old pal Mancini can still win title with Man CityYou've had it easy! Fergie mocks champions Chelsea's 100 per cent startRoberto Mancini Interview: I came to Manchester to win, not for the weather!MANCHESTER CITY FC
