Samir Nasri has warned Manchester City to wake up and catch up with Chelsea before it is too late to reclaim the title.
Manchester City are second in the table, seven points behind Premier League front-runners Chelsea. Last seasona s champions drew 1-1 on Saturday against Hull City to extend their run of winless games to 5.
Manchester City won the title last season despite being nine points behind Liverpool until a The Redsa faltered at a vital stage in the league. However, midfielder Samir Nasri believes that history is unlikely to repeat itself and Chelsea are not likely to drop points.
The City midfielder has urged his teammates to get their act together and catch-up with Chelsea as quickly as possible. However, the former Arsenal player admitted that it will not be easy for Manchester City as they visit Stoke Citya s Britannia Stadium on Wednesday.
“We have to wake up and do the job now before it’s too late,” Nasri told English newspapers. “Chelsea, with no disrespect, are not Liverpool who can drop points. They are really solid.
“We have to catch them as soon as possible if we want to be champions. But at the same time we have to look behind us. Southampton have won, United are getting close.
“It will be tough at Stoke. It’s not ideal on a Wednesday night during the winter, but we have to win it.”
City are winless in their last five games, including home defeats against Arsenal in the league and Middlesbrough in the FA Cup. This has been the Manchester cluba s worst run since late 2009, when then manager Mark Hughes subsequently lost his job. Hughes, currently working as Stokea s manager, will be looking forward to Wednesdaya s game to complete the double over his former club.
Midfielder Yaya Toure, who will miss the Stoke game after helping Ivory Coast win the African Nations Cup, admits City have little margin for error now.
“With my confidence I know football is not about one game or two games, especially in the Premier League,” he said.
“We have 38 games and if we want to achieve it [retaining the title] we have to win all the games.
“I know it is difficult but now I have to go back and do my duty again.”
Manchester Citya s league form has dipped remarkably since their 3-2 win over Sunderland at the beginning of the year. Since then, Manchester City have drawn three and lost one game in the Premier League to fall seven points behind the pole position.