Title dream ‘impossible’ as Mancini relies on cup cheer

FA CUP SEMI-FINAL: Man City v Chelsea

City still trail Manchester United by 12 points at the top of the Premier League even after winning at Old Trafford last Monday. With just seven games left only the most optimistic of City supporters would believe the deficit can be overturned and most are instead looking forward to tomorrow’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea.

Mancini said: “If United lose against Stoke and we win against Chelsea in the FA Cup and win against Wigan [in the league next Wednesday] — six points, it could be possible.

“But we need to have three points for the FA Cup! “It is impossible. They did better than us, they deserve to win.

“Twelve points is too much. We hope to get closer. We have seven games, so we hope.”

Mancini is now focused on this weekend’s trip to Wembley as he bids to win a second FA Cup in three seasons.

His prime fitness concern is playmaker David Silva, who suffered a hamstring injury in the closing stages against United.

Mancini said: “We will decide, I think, on Sunday morning. If there is a risk he will not play, but if there is not, then maybe.”

Mancini is also still to determine whether star striker Sergio Aguero will be able to start after his matchwinning heroics against United.

Mancini said: “Probably he is not 100% but Sergio for us at 80% is important.”

City have had the edge over Chelsea in their meetings this season, drawing 0-0 at Stamford Bridge last November and winning the return at the Etihad Stadium 2-0 in February. They also won 3-2 in the Community Shield at Villa Park at the start of the season.

But Mancini said: “It will be different from the other games we played against Chelsea. It is more difficult, they are in a good moment and they want to play in the final, like us.”

With midfielder Yaya Toure tied to a new deal just last week, Mancini must decide if Gareth Barry, who will enter the final year of his contract in the summer, will be staying at tghe club.

Mancini said: “I think we have three or four players in this situation. We will decide this in the next month but these players are important players for us.

“I am very happy with Gareth because Gareth is a good guy and a serious professional player.”

Meanwhile, Frank Lampard knows Chelsea must be at their best in tomorrow’s semi-final if the holders are to continue their rich recent history in the FA Cup.

The Blues are seeking a fifth FA Cup triumph in seven years.

“It’s a tournament that’s been pretty good to us,” Lampard said. “We’ve just performed very well and we’ve got good success. Against a team of Man City’s quality, you can’t take any positives from previous history.

“If they’re at their best, we’re below our best, they’ll probably win the game, and vice-versa. You’re talking about two very good teams.”

Lampard is uncertain if he will be selected, having played the full 90 minutes of Thursday night’s 3-2 defeat by Rubin Kazan in Moscow which saw the Blues edge through to the Europa League semi-finals 5-4 on aggregate. Chelsea play Basle in the last four with the first leg in Switzerland.

Chelsea’s congested fixture schedule means interim boss Rafael Benitez must rotate his squad and Lampard has no complaints.

“I’m not sure I’ll be playing on Sunday. I don’t think anyone’s an automatic selection for the manager at the minute as we see, because there’s lots of games and he’s changing it regularly.

“I’m like everyone else — I want to play every game but it’s not possible.”

Benitez is confident his side can cope with their hectic fixture pile-up and progress to two cup finals.

Benitez, whose side are favourites for the Europa League after avoiding Fenerbahce or Benfica, said: “All of them (the Europa semi-finalists) are good teams. We were thinking which might be the best for us, in terms of the fixtures we have. Basle is not too far away so maybe it’s not a bad option.”

Benitez believes Manchester City could have the physical edge tomorrow. He said: “It’s always an advantage (to have rested). I don’t know how much.

“We’ve tried to manage our squad and we have players with some fresh legs. Hopefully we will be fine. We have too many games and we have to use the squad.

“We will see what happens at the end of the season, but top three, another semi-final. Not bad.”