The Premier League leaders face a stern test of their credentials as they travel to Stamford Bridge to face Andre Villas-Boas' side on Monday night. The Londoners may have dropped out of the top four due to other results over the weekend, but they have emerged from a difficult spell over the past week. They won at Newcastle on their last outing and then produced their best display of the season to beat Valencia and reach the last 16 of the Champions League. Those results have eased any pressure on Villas-Boas and, while they remain 10 points behind City, Mancini feels Chelsea should know from their own experience that large deficits can be overhauled. Mancini said: "Last year Chelsea had a big lead over (Manchester) United but in the end United won the title by seven or eight points plus. "The Barclays Premier League is very difficult and in these two months, all the teams that play every three days will find it difficult. "I think they can win it. They have 10 points less than us but we play two times against them and there are 24 games until the end of the season." Mancini has also backed Villas-Boas to deliver for Roman Abramovich's club. The 34-year-old Portuguese coach has had a rocky start since succeeding Mancini's compatriot Carlo Ancelotti in the summer, but the City boss thinks Chelsea have found a good man. Mancini himself needed time to establish his current position of strength at the Etihad Stadium and feels Chelsea just need to be patient. He said: "I think that has shown in the last year he is a good manager. "He did well at Porto, he won trophies. "Chelsea did well to get him. "Carlo Ancelotti is a fantastic manager and I was sorry for him when Chelsea decided to sack him, but I think Villas-Boas is a good manager for them." Mancini took over at City almost two years ago and for a long time had to contend with speculation over his future. That began to change last season as he guided City to their first trophy in 35 years with FA Cup success and qualified for the Champions League, a perceived minimum target of the ambitious owners. Now, with his team having made a flying start to the domestic campaign - unbeaten in 14 league games with a remarkable 48 goals scored - his status seems unquestioned. The supporters are certainly behind him and this week's exit from the Champions League has been met with pragmatism. Mancini said: "I think the City fans are fantastic. "They are very positive about the team always, if we win in the Premier League or lose in the Champions League. "This is an important situation between us and the supporters." Mancini expects his players to learn from their Champions League disappointment. City's first season in the competition ended at the group stage despite victory over Bayern Munich in their final fixture on Wednesday. Mancini said: "I think every player thinks like me, and this is important. "It is important to win and we need to be stronger in our mentality. "In this moment when you have lost and you are disappointed, and there are some people who continue to criticise, it is important for us to work more." In-form right-back Micah Richards is unlikely to feature on Monday because of the calf problem which kept him out against Bayern Munich. Centre-back Stefan Savic filled in as Pablo Zabaleta was not fit enough to take his place, but the Argentinian is expected to feature at Stamford Bridge. Gael Clichy is likely to play at left-back with Aleksandar Kolarov out with a groin injury.
