Roberto Mancini believes the race for the Scudetto is going to go down to the wire despite seeing Inter Milan increase their lead on Wednesday.Inter were made to fight for a point in a 1-1 Serie A draw at Genoa.
David Suazo put the Nerazzurri ahead in the 11th minute, but they were reduced to 10 men when Pele was sent off for a second yellow card five minutes before the interval.
Inter had to defend for the entire second half as Genoa threw everything at Julio Cesar's goal, and they were rewarded with a goal five minutes from time from striker Marco Borriello.
The result means Inter hold a seven-point lead over Roma at the summit going into Saturday night's match at home to Juventus, although Mancini is not getting carried away.
"We still have to fight until the very end," he said. "One point more or one point less means nothing.
"We have got to keep on winning, but it is going to be hard and I don't think anything will be decided until the last two or maybe three games.
"The next six games are going to be decisive."
Genoa laid siege to the Inter goal throughout the second half following Pele's dismissal and their coach Gian Piero Gasperini claimed his side deserved to win.
"We are really disappointed," he said. "We will take the point, but I think over the 90 minutes we deserved to win.
"This result comes from the huge desire within my team, but we are still waiting for that big win."
Pele's dismissal aided Genoa's cause, but it was the introduction of on-loan AC Milan striker Borriello that turned the game.
His acrobatic goal five minutes from time earned Genoa a point and praise from opposition coach Mancini.
"Borriello has always had the talent, even as a youngster, but it is only now that he is able to play constantly and he is doing very well," said Mancini.
"To play against Genoa with 11 men is difficult enough, but it became even more difficult with 10.
"They were able to camp in our half, but apart from sending in lots of crosses, I don't think we were ever in any danger."
Mancini added that he was frustrated by the decision to dismiss Pele.
"The only difficulty was having to play with 10 men again, and it's not the first time (this season).
"If it was a sending off, then the referee has got to be consistent and keep showing yellow cards.
"We suffered five or six fouls after that and there was no yellow card for their players."
More Football News from TEAMtalk



