Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has joked that his side can snatch the Premier League title this season, but only if they get points for winning their FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea.

The Italian boss has conceded that the North-West outfit will be unable to repeat last season's feat of securing the trophy in the dying minutes of the campaign due to their 12-point gap behind Manchester United.

"If United lose against Stoke and we win against Chelsea in the FA Cup and win against Wigan [next Wednesday] - six points, it could be possible," the Manchester Evening News quotes Mancini as saying.

"But we need to have three points for the FA Cup! It is impossible. They did better than us, they deserve to win. The championship is not important, it is finished, but it is important we showed we are like them. Twelve points is too much. We hope to get closer."

City have seven games left to play in their Premier League season.