Over by Easter

Mancini: It's over if United win next two games Roberto Mancini has admitted the title race will be over if Manchester United win their next two games. United can open up an eight-point lead over Manchester City with wins over Blackburn tonight and QPR on Sunday, before City next play. Mancini, whose City side dropped points at home for the first time in 15 months in their 3-3 draw with Sunderland, said such a margin would be too big to close. “If we go eight points behind then it is finished,” said Mancini. “It’s clear we are ­disappointed. We have made some mistakes, me and the team. We have also been unlucky, like losing three or four key players at an ­important moment. But when you are a strong team you should be able to pass these difficult moments. Yet football can change in two or three games. I had an experience in Italy with Inter Milan when we were five points behind with five games to go yet we still went on to win the title.” David McDonnell, Daily Mirror The Daily Star run quotes from Inside United's interview with Wayne Rooney in which the striker admits that winning the title this season would be one of United's greatest achievements. The Daily Mail say striker Lukas Podolski agreed to join Arsenal after snubbing an approach from United. The paper also run a story, originally in the Sunday Mirror, claiming United plan to bolster their midfield by splashing out £15million on PSV Eindhoven's Kevin Strootman.