The Manchester City football manager Roberto Mancini has finally admitted that his team's defence of their Premier League title is over.
City's 2-0 defeat at Everton in the last game before the international break left neighbours and rivals Manchester United 15 points ahead at the top of the table with nine matches left to play.
Although United must still play City at Old Trafford on April 8th, Alex Ferguson's team need only 13 points from their remaining matches to clinch a 20th English league title.
Mancini famously wrote off his side's chances towards the end of last season, before a goal in the last seconds of the final game against Queens Park Rangers by Sergio Aguero snatched the title from United's grasp.
But this time he is adamant it's over and says United have been the better side.
However, Mancini insists that there will be no let-up from his players, with London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur both in a position to claim the runners-up spot should City take their foot off the pedal.
They also have the FA Cup semi-final against either United or Chelsea.
