Manchester City assistant manager Brian Kidd has
revealed boss Roberto Mancini has not given up on
winning the Premier League title despite what he has
said in public.
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City face Tottenham on Sunday knowing a defeat at
White Hart Lane, and a win for leaders Manchester
United against Aston Villa on Monday, would confirm
Alex Ferguson's team as champions.
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Mancini recently admitted the race was over, but
Kidd claims the Italian, inspired by last season's title-
winning campaign, secretly believes it is still possible
to overhaul United's 13-point lead.
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"Let's be honest, the boss has been here just less
than four years and he has put silverware on the
sideboard and no-one believes that he has really
given up on the title," Kidd said.
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"It was the same last season. We keep working the
same, we keep working hard, he is on the pitch every
day. It is all about attaining a standard.
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"And like I keep saying, he is not afraid to deal with
big players. He can handle big players and he is not
afraid of making big decisions.
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"It is not over. We're champions so it is not over. As
champions you go out with pride.
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"If you going to lose it you are going to lose it by
getting knocked out, like a great boxer would, not on
his stool."
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Should City fail in their Premier League title defence,
as looks increasingly likely, Kidd is well aware it is no
fluke that United have wrestled it from them.
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"I've been there and I keep hearing these stories that
it is luck," he said.
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"It is not luck. It is ingrained in them. They keep
going to the end -win, draw or lose.
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"The best team doesn't always win the FA cup but
over a 38-game season the best team always wins
the Premier League."
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City will check on the fitness of Argentine forward
Sergio Aguero and Spanish midfielder David Silva
ahead of their clash with Tottenham as both players
attempt to recover from hamstring injuries.