Man City need nine wins for Premier League title, says Manuel Pellegrini

Manuel Pellegrini feels Manchester City must win nine of their last 10 games to reclaim the Premier League title.

City have been inconsistent in recent weeks and find themselves in fourth place, 10 points adrift of leaders Leicester City, albeit with a game in hand.

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Pellegrini does not think City's title chances can yet be written off, but he knows any more slip-ups could see them on the outside looking in, with only a Champions League place to play for.

"The next four games will be very important to reduce the gap and we will see what the gap is like after the next four games," said Pellegrini, whose first test comes against struggling Norwich City on Saturday.

"We need to win at least nine. We will see the other results but it will be very difficult if we don't win all the games.

"It is not just our team that have less points than two seasons ago. This season is different.

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"You must try to have your best players in their best moments for the last games of the season and then we will see what happens, but you cannot give up because you have less points."

City midfielder Fernandinho feels anyone giving up on the title is doing so prematurely, with the club having come from off the pace to win the title in 2012 and 2014.

"I think this would be a big mistake," said the Brazilian. "We have great players and a great manager and we're going to put our efforts into the games we have left to play.

"The team is one of the best in the league. We have a great squad with great players but we have to prove that on the pitch.

"Unfortunately, we haven't done that up to now. I hope the next two months - the last 10 games - we can prove that on the pitch and not just talking."