The Italian said earlier in the campaign that he considered the champions to be "two or three yards" ahead of his team. City have been in outstanding form this term and head into Sunday's eagerly-anticipated Manchester derby at Old Trafford two points ahead of United as Premier League leaders. But, despite how the table reads, Mancini stills sees United as the benchmark and he feels City are catching them up. Mancini said: "Now it is one yard! United are over City, one yard. "In these two months I think we worked very well and we reduced the gap. "They are a team that every year win something - the Barclays Premier League, Champions League or FA Cup. "I think winning one thing every year is normal (for them)." City were indifferent against Villarreal in midweek but battled through to snatch their first Champions League win with a stoppage-time goal. Such wins have almost become a hallmark of United's success over the years and Mancini reckons this is a trait his players need to learn. The Italian added: "United have one thing we don't have yet. "I saw United's game against Norwich. Norwich had chances but United are strong enough that if they don't play very well, they win the game. This for a top team is important." City have dropped just two points in the Premier League and scored 27 goals in their eight games. Mancini expects his team to maintain a title challenge throughout the campaign but admits they will have to work hard to keep pace with their rivals. He said: "I don't know if we can win all the games. We have had seven victories and one draw. "The season is hard and we have a lot of games to play. "I think we can stay there for a long time but to stay there we need to work very hard. "We could go back to second or third but it is important we are always there at the top, or one point behind. It is important." When asked who he felt the main title challengers would be, Mancini, speaking at his pre-match press conference, said: "I think United, City, Chelsea, Liverpool."
