Joe Hart says that a second-place finish for Manchester City would not mean the season has been a failure.
The reigning champions sit 15 points behind leaders Manchester United ahead of Monday’s derby, but have an FA Cup semi-final to look forward to.
Asked what a second-place finish and victory at Wembley would mean, the 25-year-old goalkeeper told Football Focus: “We’ve got to look to win our last seven games and two in the cup.
“That has to be seen as successful.”
After winning the club’s first top-flight title in 44 years thanks to Sergio Aguero’s dramatic last-minute winner against Queens Park Rangers in May 2012, manager Roberto Mancini’s side have endured a more low-key campaign this time around.
A 2-0 defeat by Everton last month all but ended their already-slim title chances despite having nine games still to play at that stage.
In December, they also went out in the group phase of the Champions League for the second season in succession, in the process registering the lowest haul of points by an English club in the 20-year history of the competition.
Hope remains in the FA Cup, however, where they face a last-four tie with Chelsea on 14 April.
The England goalkeeper called on his team-mates to learn from the setbacks they have experienced and “keep moving forward”.
“You have to keep re-evaluating the season,” Hart said. “We have had disappointments in the league and Champions League but you have to move forward and appreciate it’s not all set up for us.
“We have to keep moving forward and learning.”
Despite falling well behind in the title race, when asked what is at stake in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, Hart replied: “A lot.
“It is a cliche but we play for our fans, and for ourselves. It looks like the title is not going our way but we have a lot to play for.
“We are looking for three points and to get as big a tally as we can.”
