Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini believes it would be wrong to count Chelsea out of the Premier League title race.
The reigning Premier League champions have fallen seven points behind both City and Manchester United at the top of the table following a dismal run of form that has seen them record just two wins from their last 10 league outings.
But Mancini believes Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers last weekend, are more than capable of forcing themselves back into the reckoning.
The Italian said: “Chelsea could come back again.”
The Blues have been hampered by injuries to key players in recent months, losing the likes of John Terry, Alex and Frank Lampard, but Mancini expects a fully fit Chelsea to pose a threat to their championship chances.
He added: “Maybe at this moment Manchester United are better than them but their problem has been to have so many players injured.
“When they get them all back they have a good team.”