Rafa Benitez warns Roberto Mancini about mind games

Rafa Benitez has urged Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini not to succumb to Sir Alex Ferguson's mind games during the title run-in.

The Spaniard, whose Liverpool side lost out on the Premier League crown to Ferguson's Manchester United in 2009, warned the Sky Blues boss about losing focus.

"You have to focus on yourselves and forget everything else," The Mirror quotes Benitez as saying.

"It's United in this case, but it might be two or three other teams at the top of the table. You can't think, 'He said this or this', you have to concentrate on your job.

"When you are at a top club and are fighting with the other contenders, you don't have problems with the other managers. That is the situation for Mancini or anyone who could now be at the top of the table fighting for the title."

United have a three-point advantage over their city rivals with eight matches remaining.