Manchester City: Roberto Mancini and Blues Can't Afford Late-Season Collapse

After leading the Premier League for the past 20 meetings, Manchester City lost its spot to Manchester United.

This couldn’t have come in a tougher moment, as earlier in the season the club failed to advance to the round of 16 of the UEFA Premier League and couldn’t defend its FA Cup title.

The Blues visited Liberty Stadium last weekend and were defeated by Swansea 1-0. The first time they've lost since January.

Roberto Mancini’s boys were threatened from the beginning of the match, as Joe Hart gave away a penalty on Wayne Routledge. Nonetheless, the English goalkeeper saved its team.

Different from previous matches, the Citizens didn’t find the way to break the opponents’ defensive line and struggled to keep the pace of the game, as the Swans were a better-organized team.

Man City seemed to have secured a draw after 82 minutes, but Luke Moore managed to score a header to put Swansea ahead. Micah Richards was close to tying the match, but his goal didn’t count as he was ruled offside.

As Mancini’s squad fell short, Manchester United managed to post its fourth consecutive victory, this time against West Brom. Thus, leading the championship by one point.

The Premier League has 10 dates pending, enough for City to avoid a late-season collapse and take home its first title.

There are no excuses; the management and the players can’t afford to fail, as they have proven to be a strong club.

The Blues are going trough their best season ever.

City has won 21 games and lost only four, furthermore, the club has scored 67 goals and only conceded 20, the best record in the league.

Roberto Mancini is in great part responsible of this.

The Italian manager put together one of the strongest teams in the league, he’s brought the squad to its best in just two and a half seasons.

To accomplish the feat, Mancini signed players like Yaya Touré, Sergio Agüero, Samir Nasri, David Silva and Edin Dzeko—all of them have had a key role on the pitch.

For instance, Agüero sits third in the top scorers table with 16 goals.

Losing the leadership can’t hold the Blues back because they have tough matches ahead. The first one against Chelsea, a team they last defeated in September 2010.

The meeting will be complicated, even when it’s set to take place in Etihad Stadium, Chelsea is seeking to go back to the top-three of the table with Roberto Di Matteo as interim coach.

The next nine games the Citizens will face are: Stoke City (a), Sunderland (h), Arsenal (a), West Brom (h), Norwich (a), Wolverhampton (a), United (h), Newcastle (a) and Queens Park Rangers (h).

Manchester City must take advantage in the games played at home.

Sunderland has had an irregular season and has only won four matches away; West Brom has posted six victories when playing outside The Hawthorns, and QPR has won three meetings outside its ground.

The toughest game will be against United.

The Blues defeated them this season at Old Trafford, but the Red Devils have been successful at Etihad Stadium this season.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad posted victories at the Community Shield final and the FA Cup third round match, in both games United won 3-2.

Mancini needs to add as much points as possible prior to the game against it’s archenemy, because the league can well be defined in this meeting.

The away games will be tricky.

Stoke City knows how to take advantage at home; this season the club has lost four times in Britannia Stadium.

Arsenal’s record when playing at Emirates Stadium is superb, they've won nine out of 13 matches this season.

Norwich is trying to stay out of the relegation zone and winning as much as possible at Carrow Road is a must; they've only lost four matches there.

When City visits Wolverhampton, the club must take into consideration that the Wolves are fighting with all they have to stay on the Premier, which will make it a very demanding game.

The last game outside Etihad Stadium will be against Newcastle United. The Magpies can secure a place on the 2012-13 UEFA Europa League Play-off round if they go one spot up; they are sixth on the table right now.

Mancini has proven to be the right choice for City. He’s put the club where fans and management have only dreamt.

Now it’s time to avoid a collapse and as he said last weekend: “It is important we are very comfortable together. It is better to stay at the top but, now we are behind, it doesn't change our target.”

And whether people like it or not, in 10 days the coach and the team will have another member on-board: Carlos Tévez. This may be just what City needs to grab the title.