League race doubts - but Rod believes City have a Real chance

Pep on substandard call from bench after draw with Hammers

- BY SIMON BAJKOWSKI

Rodri believes City's race for the league title is run - but backs his side to overturn the 2-0 deficit to Real Madrid in the Champions League

RODRI thinks City may have lost out on the Premier League title - but is backing them to stay alive in the Champions League.

The Blues were held 1-1 at West Ham on Saturday in what has become a damaging month for them in the two biggest competitions.

Arsenal are now nine points clear at the top of the league after beating Everton 2-0 and while they have played an extra game City - having drawn their last two - do not look like putting a run together to stop them. Where Pep Guardiola teams of previous seasons would have charged at the run-in, this City side have stumbled.

However, Rodri is not ready to count City out of the Champions League despite a disastrous defeat to Real Madrid in midweek. City must turn around a 3-0 deficit from the first leg when they host the Spanish giants on Tuesday, but the Blues midfielder still thinks a comeback is possible.

"We are alive in other competitions and on Tuesday we have a massive game [against Real Madrid], that I really believe we can turn around. "The players who play have to score," said Rodri.