• Premier League

Kidd: Man United could yet choke in title race

Manchester United's defence was shaky in their last outing at West Ham © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Ashley Young out for the rest of the season
  
• News: Balotelli named one of world's most influential
  
• News: Chelsea & Man City target Cavani 'wants to leave Napoli'
  
• News: Fergie: Nothing in Rooney-to-PSG reports
  
• News: Silva and Aguero remain doubts for City's trip to Spurs
  

Manchester City assistant manager Brian Kidd insists the title race is not over and believes his side can still overhaul Manchester United.

Roberto Mancini's men are 13 points behind the league leaders but Kidd has urged them to show the pride of champions and said this could yet be a "great" season for City.

Kidd has drawn upon his experience winning the league as a United player and playing a part in five more title-winning campaigns as Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant in the 1990s to say his former club will be scarred by the loss of an eight-point lead in the final few matches of last season.

"This time last year everybody said it was all over," Kidd said. "You were talking about eight points in six games. Nobody thought Manchester United would drop eight points in six games.

"Nobody knows. The title is not over yet until it is mathematically finished. It is United's to lose but make no mistake, there will be some jittery moments with what happened last year. It was a bad experience for them and they will be shocked by it."

United could be crowned champions on Monday if City lose to Tottenham and they beat Aston Villa but Kidd feels the title could stay in the blue half of Manchester.

"Stranger things have happened in football. It is poor if we think it was all over. It could turn out a great season for Manchester City, we could win the league and the FA Cup. What a great season."

And Kidd said that he did not give up in last season's title race, even when Mancini had declared it was "finished" after City's April defeat to Arsenal.

He explained: "The gaffer must have thought I was daft last year because I kept going on about it: 'They will drop points.' I've experienced that over the years, losing titles on the last day of the season and the next week going to Wembley for the Double [with United in 1995].

"Until it is mathematically certain, there is hope there and belief. We are champions and we want to fight until the end. We have to take pride in that."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.