Roberto Mancini has revealed that he is looking to extend the gap at the top of the table this weekend.
The Italian's Manchester City side host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, while Manchester United travel to Arsenal in a vital weekend in the title race.
City, who thrashed Spurs 5-1 in this season's reverse fixture, can go eight points clear of the North London side with a win. They can also go six points clear of United if the Red Devils lose to Arsenal in Sunday's late kickoff.
"I think when you play against a top squad like Tottenham, [Manchester] United or Chelsea and you win it, your mentality improves," said Mancini.
"Your feeling is better, your confidence is better. I think that is very important, like when we beat Arsenal at home,
"It is not easy to recover eight points if [Spurs] lose, but everything can happen. We maybe didn't think United could lose at home to Blackburn or at Newcastle. So, for this reason, if you don't take every game 100% it is difficult."
City currently sit top of the league with 51 points from 21 games.
