Manuel Pellegrini is adamant that Manchester City can still make up their five-point deficit to Premier League leaders Chelsea.
The reigning champions missed the chance to reduce that gap to two points after being held to a 1-1 draw by the Blues at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night.
With 15 league games remaining, though, the Chilean insists that there are plenty more twists and turns left in the season.
"Of course it was important to try to close the gap," he told reporters. "We tried but we couldn't.
"We still have 45 points more to play for. I said before the game that this was a very important game but it is not a final.
"We have time to try to recover those five points and if we continue playing in the way we did it will be more easy."
Pellegrini's side host Hull City at the Etihad Stadium next weekend.
