Mancini believes his side will manage to recover from their loss to Swansea City at the weekend.
City host Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League on Thursday. Mancini’s side lost 1-0 in the first leg in Portugal.
“Against Sporting Lisbon in Portugal and Swansea City we did not play very good games,” he said in the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
“We did not play like Manchester City usually play. I think we need to play better, and sometimes if you are unlucky in this game, you can lose.
“Now we cannot cry, now is the time to be strong and keep going. We are a top team and we can recover.
“We are one point behind Manchester United and we have 10 games, and we can change it if we want.
“I prefer to stay at the top (of the table), but we were there for six months and 28 games, Now we are behind but it is important to be there at the end of the season.
“We are disappointed about the defeat against Swansea but now we are focused on Sporting Lisbon.”
