Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has insisted that their match with Chelsea will not have a definitive say on the destination of the Premier League title.
The champions travel to Stamford Bridge for a top-of-the-table showdown on Saturday, in which defeat would see them fall eight points behind the Londoners.
However, Pellegrini has claimed that it is too early in the season for any result to decide the title race, and highlighted City making up significant ground on rivals Manchester United to finish top of the pile three seasons ago as evidence.
"It's an important game, it's not the game that will decide the title because after that we have to play for 48 points," the Argentine told reporters.
"It's not a final. Remember, City won the title in 2011-12 after being eight points behind Manchester United."
Chelsea's 17-goal top-scorer Diego Costa will miss the match after losing his appeal against an FA violent conduct charge.
Joe Fish
