Manchester City's Argentinian defender Pablo Zabaleta is confident that the Premier League title is still very much up for grabs and believes his side are amongst the challengers, despite Chelsea's being seven points clear of the Sky Blues.
Zabaleta who has been a constant feature in Pep Guardiola's team this season, is confident that his side will be one of the teams challenging Chelsea as we reach the halfway point of the season.
Speaking to SkySports, the 31-year-old said: ''We know Chelsea are on a run of games and a real solid team at the moment, but of course we are not going to give up.We have confidence, and we have belief.''
City has enjoyed back-to-back wins against Watford and Arsenal in their last two outings, as the side returns to form following their demolitionat the hands of Leicester City.
As they look to keep the pressure on Liverpool and Chelsea, Zabaleta insists that the last two results have shown exactly what he and his teammates are capable of.
"We showed in the last two games that playing that way, we are one of those teams that can fight for the title for sure."
"There's a long way to go until the end of the season.
Following this first half withdrawal with a knee injury against Arsenal, the 31-year-old is keeping focused on a return in the second versus third clash New Years Eve against Liverpool.
"I felt it straight away after 15 minutes, and I just tried to finish the first half.
"I was with some pain in the ligament, and it was a risk to continue playing, possibly make it worse, and that's why I came off.
"Hopefully it is not too bad, maybe I can have an injection in there and be ready in, I don't know, maybe ten days. We'll see."