Dzeko: City’s title chances ‘almost non-existent’

Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko has admitted that the club’s recent slump was “a crisis” and rates their title chances as “almost non-existent” despite clawing back Manchester United’s lead to five points after beating West Brom while United lost at Wigan on Wednesday night.

The Bosnian forward also urged coach Roberto Mancini to sign Luka Modric from Spurs in the summer.

“Modric is a great player,” Dzeko said. “Yes, everyone is after him but I would love it if he came to City. He would be a great addition because we could use a player with his in-game solutions. I am cheering for him to choose City.”

Dzeko began the season with six goals in the first three games but he has not scored in his last eight City appearances. His slump in form has coincided with City picking up five points from their last four games, and seeing their two-point lead over United turn into an five-point deficit.

“The title is not lost, but our chances are really slim, almost non-existent,” Dzeko conceded. “We simply fell into a crisis. We lacked luck in some matches and United have too much experience not to take advantage of that.”

Dzeko has started 16 league games for City and made another 12 appearances from the bench.

“I gave everything in very match and I am pleased with my performances,” he told Croatian newspaper Vecernji List. “I scored 13 times in the Premier League and wanted to help the team whenever I could.”

Dzeko refused to comment on his demotion to the bench for the midweek win over West Brom, in which City rebel Carlos Tevez made his first start since walking out on the club after refusing to warm up in the Champions League tie against Bayern Munich in September.

“I have no comment on that, the manager decides who plays. I have a professional relationship [with Mancini], everything is the way it should be between a player and a coach, without any frictions or problems.”

Dzeko added that it was too early to talk about his future at the club, amid reports that he would be one of many City strikers — along with Tevez, Mario Balotelli as well as Roque Santa Cruz and Emmanuel Adebayor, currently on loan elsewhere — to be shown the door this summer.

“There are still games left in the league and it is to early to discuss such things. I have always said that I will not talk about me leaving City, as it is only media talk, it has not been discussed anywhere else other than in the media.”

City, meanwhile, have no intention of selling Balotelli this summer, according to the player’s agent. The Italy international has been strongly linked with a return to Serie A this summer after a controversial season in England.

“I’m in Manchester but it has nothing to do with the transfer market,” Balotelli’s agent Mino Raiola said to Sky Italia. “There is no intention by Manchester City to sell the player.’’