Mancini calls for Manchester City to ‘focus and show their strength’

City, who have led the table for most of the season, trail arch-rivals and champions Manchester United by a point with 10 games remaining after losing at Swansea on Sunday.

That 1-0 defeat came at the end of a bad week in which City were also beaten by the same scoreline in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie against Sporting Lisbon in Portugal.

The second leg is at the Etihad Stadium tonight.

Mancini wants his team to refocus quickly knowing that, with a game against United still to come, the title is still within their grasp.

The Italian said: “I think that in Portugal and against Swansea we did not play a very good game, we did not play like Manchester City usually play. We didn’t deserve to lose both games but I think we need to play better.

“We can’t cry, now is the time to be strong and keep going. We have a top team and we have time to recover.

“We can’t cry because we are one point behind Manchester United.

“We have 10 games, our fortune is in our hands and we can change it if we want to.

“Like we lost points against Swansea, United can lose points against Wolverhampton. Every game will be difficult for both teams.”

Captain Vincent Kompany is unlikely to return from his calf problem before the trip to Stoke on March 24 and right-back Pablo Zabaleta is still out with a hamstring injury.

Joleon Lescott has a chance of making the bench tonight as he recovers from a groin injury, but midfielder Gareth Barry has suffered further discomfort from a back problem and could be rested.

Striker Carlos Tevez will not feature tonight, because he is not eligible. But the Argentinian, who has been training for the past month after ending his dispute with the club, could be back in contention for next Wednesday’s game with Chelsea.