Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has told his side "everything is possible" as they try to overhaul leaders Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table. Reigning champions City, currently second, could be 15 points adrift of their cross-city rivals by the time they kick-off at Aston Villa on Monday if United beat Norwich on Saturday.
But with 11 league matches left, Mancini said now was not the time to give up on the title. "I think the season is mathematical," the Italian said Friday. "I was not strong in mathematics in school. Eleven games to play, 33 points, everything is possible. Last time we won the title: six games to go, eight points (behind). "Every game will be like this. If we don't win and they continue to win, always. We talked about this last week. When you are 12 points behind it is normal that if you don't lose or don't win and Man United win the next game it will be difficult.
"We should try to win always. It doesn't change our ways." Meanwhile Mancini is hopeful Vincent Kompany has finally recovered from his calf injury. Kompany, 26, has been absent since limping off in the 1-0 FA Cup victory over Stoke on January 26. The Belgian defender has been hampered by the problem in recent months but Mancini is confident City have finally got to the bottom of the injury. He expects Monday's game against Villa to come too soon for the centre-back's return but he could be back against Barnsley in the FA Cup on March 9.