By NEIL CUSTIS
ROBERTO MANCINI says he NOSE where Manchester City blew their title chances — in the January transfer window.
The Eastlands boss insists they should have bought a top-class centre-half when Vincent Kompany got injured.
They went on to drop seven points in the next three games after Kompany’s injury at Stoke on January 26.
And Mancini — who was wearing a red nose yesterday for Comic Relief — said: “We make a mistake.
“When Vincent got injured there was still four days left in the transfer window and we should’ve bought another defender.
“We had a chance but didn’t think Vincent would be out for 45 days. It’s a problem as he’s important.”
City had won six straight games when Kompany suffered a calf injury at Stoke.
Without their captain and defensive rock, they went on to drop points in a goalless bore at QPR, 2-2 draw at home to Liverpool and a 3-1 loss at Southampton.
The gap at the top stretched to 12 points as United won all their games in the same period and City have not been able to bridge it.
Kompany is still out and not likely to be back until Newcastle at the end of the month.
There seems no chance he will hold aloft the Premier League trophy again this year.
But despite an impossible task to keep their title, Mancini holds out hope. He says he can see signs of United tiring while City are getting stronger and he wants the gap cut over the next two games before the derby on Monday April 8.
Mancini said: “When you play every three days and it’s always a top game, you’re tired. We’re getting stronger.
“We need to win every match from now.
“The next two or three matches are crucial. If they can lose points in the next two games then we’ve the derby. We want the gap cut to nine or seven points by then.”
Some hope with United facing Reading today at Old Trafford and Sunderland away on March 30. City today travel to Everton. Since taking charge in December 2009, Mancini has lost 22 Premier League games and five of them have been against Everton.
He has won just one out of seven meetings with David Moyes. Mancini said: “If you want to beat Everton, you fight.”
Striker Sergio Aguero, who suffered a knee injury against Chelsea last month, should be fit to face Newcastle in a fortnight.
