Roberto Mancini has said that Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas needs time to turn the club around.
Villas-Boas, who slammed the club's critics after their 3-0 win over Valencia this week, went on to suggest that there is some media bias in favour of Mancini's league-leading Citizens side.
However, the Italian has since spoken out in defence of the Chelsea manager.
"Villas-Boas is a good appointment, he's a good manager," he said. "When you arrive at a new team you need time. It's difficult to change everything in two or three months. It's impossible.
"When we win the media will say you are a top team, when you lose you get criticised. This is our life.
"It's not easy to manage a top squad. He was manager of Porto and they're a top club. I don't know about his situation there."
Meanwhile, the two sides are scheduled to meet on Monday night as Manchester City travel to Stamford Bridge.
