Soccer:Roberto Mancini says Manchester United are still Premier League title favourites, even though his City side now lead with just two games to go. Last night's 1-0 win for Mancini's men over their rivals at the Etihad Stadium means City look sure to secure their first championship since 1968 if they win their final two games, at Newcastle on Sunday and at home to QPR seven days later.
Yet Mancini still insists United are favourites - the bookies disagree - and does not want his players to get lulled into a false sense of security. "It is not finished," said Mancini. "If we think it is finished, we will be making a big mistake.
"United are the favourites. They have easy games. They play against Swansea and Sunderland. We have two strong games, Newcastle and QPR. One plays for the Champions League, the other for relegation. It is important that we are on the top now but it is more important to be there after May 13th."
Pop superstar and celebrity City fan Liam Gallagher was less cautious as he burst into the media room after Mancini had given his post-match observations to announce: "Ferguson must have been on the whisky," and: "I love Mancini, he is nearly as cool as me."
Mancini might have appreciated the plaudits but he was happy to praise his team, believing their victory was fully deserved because of their attacking attitude towards the game. "It was important for them to play for a draw because the championship would have been finished," he said. "We played better. We deserved to win but it was difficult because they had all the players behind the ball."
Just four games ago, City were eight points behind and seemingly in crisis. Now it is they who appear favourites to finish top, which Mancini admits seems bizarre.
"Football is crazy," he said. "It is important to always believe in yourself when you have a bad moment. We were on the top for 28 games and I think we deserve another chance. But in two games, anything can happen.
"It is enough for my players that they remember six weeks ago and we were four points ahead of United. In two games we lost everything. Up to now, we have done nothing."
Alex Ferguson, meanwhile, accused Mancini of "badgering" the officials after the pair clashed on the touchline. The managers had to be kept apart on the touchline by fourth official Mike Jones after a difference of opinion over Nigel de Jong's foul on Danny Welbeck led to angry words and gestures being exchanged, although the pair did shake hands at the final whistle.
Ferguson said: "He was badgering the referee the whole game, the fourth official and the linesman, and the minute I go out there... He was complaining about referees all week, he can't be complaining tonight, that's for sure."
Mancini played the incident down, adding: "I don't remember (what the row was about). I told the fourth official it was a foul for us, not against. At that moment the tension was high, but for me it's forgotten."
Title run-in
Manchester City
May 6- Newcastle A
May 13- QPR H
Manchester United
May 6- Swansea H
May 13- Sunderland A
