Best yet to come, declares Mancini

ROBERTO MANCINI believes Manchester City can finish in the top two after insisting there is more to come from his players in the last seven league games of the season.

The crushing 5-0 victory over Sunderland saw Mancini’s expensively-assembled side climb above Chelsea into third spot in the table.

Although the Italian said his side had left themselves too much to do in terms of catching leaders Manchester United, the City boss believes that second place was not beyond his team.

City are just three points behind second-placed Arsenal, who have played a game less, with 21 points left to play for.

“The gap is three points and we can improve,’’ said Mancini.

“It’s important now we continue and we go to Liverpool next week looking for a win. We can improve.’’

The five-goal romp over Sunderland was City’s biggest league win of the season and came on a weekend when rivals Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham all dropped points.

“It was important for us to win this game after the results this weekend,’’ added Mancini.

“What was the difference? We have had time to train.

“We started the game right. I’m surprised but happy (that City scored five times).”

The match was watched by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson ahead of the FA Cup semi-final with City at Wembley on April 16.

“He knows the semi-final is a one-off game and anything can happen,’’ added Mancini. “He knows Manchester City very well just as we know all about Manchester United.’’

Angry Sunderland manager Steve Bruce insisted his players were locked in a relegation dogfight even though they have a six-point safety cushion with seven games left.

Sunderland were challenging for a Europa League spot a few weeks ago but have now lost six of the last seven league games — a run Bruce labelled “horrific’’.

Bruce said: “From start to finish it was brutal.

“We were second best and got what we deserved. We got our backsides well and truly kicked. We pride ourselves on giving teams a game, but that has just not happened.

“We had two or three players who performed okay, but when you comes to places like Manchester City, then you need the whole team to play well.

“We haven’t got enough points in the bag. We need some more points before we can say we are safe.

“We have been on an horrific run.

“But we have now got the bottom six coming up, plus Bolton. It’s up to us.

“We have got to get back that resilience that we showed earlier in the season. We have lost that cutting edge and it’s a bit of a worry.’’