Mancini: This time the table does lie

PREMIER LEAGUE: Man Utd v Man City

United hold a 15-point advantage over their rivals heading into Monday’s derby clash at Old Trafford.

With just eight games left, Mancini has already conceded the title to United but the Italian is determined to cut the deficit to a figure he believes more accurately reflects the on-field gap.

Mancini said: “We don’t deserve to stay 15 points behind. They have played very well, they have won a lot of games.

“The last 18 (unbeaten) — the last time they lost was Norwich.

“They deserve to stay on the top, but not 15 points. It is not a true table.

“We have eight games. If we play well, if we win a lot of these games, maybe we can reduce this gap. This should be our target.”

City memorably thrashed United 6-1 when they visited Old Trafford last season. Mancini is certainly not expecting a repeat.

“This is impossible,” he said. “This can happen every 100 years.”

But he does expect his team to give everything, even though the title seems out of reach and they face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals the following week.

He said: “If it is not important for the table or the title race, I think the derby is always a derby. It is important for us and for them. We have pressure, always. It will be like the first (derby). I think every derby is important. We want to show we don’t deserve to stay 15 points behind and we can reduce the gap from now to the end. But the title race is finished.”

City go into the game on the back of an encouraging 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle and boosted by the news key midfielder Yaya Toure has signed a new four-year contract.

The influential Ivory Coast international has committed himself to the Etihad Stadium until 2017, ending speculation he could leave in the summer.

Mancini said: “I am happy because Yaya, for me, is one of the best players in the world.

“I think it is very important for the club.”

Playmaker David Silva signed a new five-year contract earlier in the season and Mancini expects more deals to be agreed with existing players in the coming months. Two that could become a priority are Carlos Tevez and Gareth Barry, who both enter the final years of their contracts in the summer.

Mancini said: “We have time to talk about this. Yaya was important — also for the other players, it would be the same, in the next month, next two months. I am confident.”

Tevez was this week ordered to undertake 250 hours of community service after being convicted of driving while disqualified.

Mancini does not expect the Argentinian’s punishment to hamper the club in any way.

When asked if it could be a problem, Mancini said: “I don’t think so, no. I didn’t speak with him about this.

“I think that Carlos did a mistake and he will pay for this, but usually he has good behaviour.”

Another City player, Samir Nasri, was also banned from driving this week. Mancini does not think these incidents reflect badly on the club.

He said: “I don’t think this. This is their private life.

“We can do nothing about this. This can happen sometimes.”