Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart insists the title race is not over.

City sit nine points behind leaders Chelsea.

"It's kind of how we do it," said Hart, when asked about City's need to overcome a nine-point deficit. "We like to do it a different way. We've not necessarily reached the standard week-in, week-out that we wanted to, but the beauty of football is that you get another chance and that starts on Monday at Crystal Palace.

"We've got some massive games; eight big games to reach a level that we need to reach. We've not necessarily done that all season but we feel we are in the right place now. We have a lot of rest time and there are no excuses. Everyone is fit and ready to go. We will never give up.

"We have definitely moved on as a team since we first won the league in 2012. That was a massive achievement but now we expect it of ourselves. We have been disappointed at certain times this season but there are eight games to go and we'll give it all we've got."