Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is adamant that his side need to win all their matches between now and the end of December to keep themselves in the Premier League title race.

The Citizens currently trail Chelsea by eight points after 11 matches this season, and Pellegrini has insisted that his side can't drop further points over the festive period in order to keep the pressure on Jose Mourinho's side.

He told reporters: "I think December and this week of November are a decisive month for the Premier League. We're going to play eight games in the Premier League and we are going to finish the first half of the season at the end of December.

"We have 24 more points to try to win. We have to try to do it. I think that is the only way - maybe not to be top of the table, because Chelsea is in a very good moment, but I think it is important to have a good first half of the season; that is, more than 41 or 42 points.

"So the 24 points that we're going to play for now in November and December are very crucial to try to be as near to the top of the table as we can."

City face Swansea City in their Premier League clash later today.