25 November,2012 09:03 AM IST | | AFP
City, who start the weekend at the top of the EPL, are looking to bounce back from the bitter disappointment of going out of the Champions League after being held to a 1-1 draw by Real Madrid on Wednesday.
But Mancini believes City's 12-match unbeaten league run this season is under threat after the events at Stamford Bridge this week.
"Usually when one team changes a manager, the game after for the opponents is very difficult," the Italian told a news conference in Manchester on Friday.
"For us, I think it is more difficult.
Chelsea are one of the best teams in England, in Europe. They have won everything in the last 10 years. Chelsea is a good team with Di Matteo and will be a good team for Benitez."u00a0