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Samir Nasri has underlined the confidence running through Manchester City after their comeback against Chelsea by revealing he hopes Manchester United do not drop a point before they arrive at the Etihad Stadium for a potential title decider on 30 April.

One point separates the two Manchester clubs following Nasri's 85th-minute winner against Roberto Di Matteo's team on Wednesday but, rather than wish for a United collapse to ease City's route to a first league title for 44 years, the France international believes it will benefit his club to face the champions with everything at stake.

With Carlos Tevez back in the squad and willing "to fight for the club", according to Nasri, the former Arsenal midfielder believes City have nothing to fear over the final nine matches of the season.

"You know what, I hope United win all their games, and that we win all of ours, so we can play a final here," said Nasri, who produced arguably his best game for City in the 2-1 defeat of Chelsea. "It will be fantastic for the fans, and for us as well. I am sure we can win the last nine games. It's as simple as that. And if we do it, we will be champions."

City supporters may not share Nasri's enthusiasm for six United victories before the clubs meet but the 24-year-old insists Mancini's team would thrive on the pressure. "Before Wednesday we were four points behind, and did you see the crowd and hear the atmosphere [against Chelsea]?" he said. "It will be like this until the end, and that will be really good for us because we will play with an extra player."

Nasri admits his unusual outlook is based not only on City's ability to win their remaining games but a realistic appraisal of United's title-winning experience. He added: "It will be more interesting for everyone if they win all of their games. I know United will be there until the end – they have the experience and they have a manager who has won everything for 25 years.

"Even if I said I hope they will lose, sometimes you have to be realistic, and I don't think they will lose too many games. First of all, because they don't have any really difficult games, and secondly because they have experience of that type of game. I think they will win so we have to do the same and win all of our games. It's not good to lie, because I don't think they will lose seven of their last nine games."

Rio Ferdinand has echoed Nasri's belief that the next Manchester derby will decide the title race but has not given up hope that City, whose supporters he has accused of coming "out of the woodwork", will drop points in the meantime.

The United defender said: "In an ideal world, we'll have it sewn up by the time we go there but I don't expect it to be finished by the time we go their stadium. If we win the games that we've got left, we win the league. But it's not as easy as that."

Ferdinand also wants to stem the rise in City shirts that he claims he has seen on the streets of Manchester this season. The 33-year-old told the BBC: "Walking around in town you see more and more blue shirts than you probably ever would have seen over the last 10 years. But success sometimes brings people out of the woodwork. So fingers crossed we can delay that and make sure that we get this title sewn up this season."

Nasri's late goal against Chelsea was created superbly by Tevez on his first appearance for City since refusing to warm up in the Champions League game at Bayern Munich in September. Nasri insists the errant Argentina international has been accepted back into the fold by the City squad and can be instrumental in deciding the destiny of the title.

"Since Carlos came back to training he has shown great spirit and focus on his training," Nasri said. "He is a great player – one of the best – and when he is 100% he is really, really hard to stop. The assist will give him confidence because it's not easy to come back after six months without playing a game. He played two games for the reserves but that's not the same. He showed he is ready to fight for the club and it's really important for us."

and did you see the crowd and hear the atmosphere [against Chelsea]?" he said.

Im_Spartacus wrote:

and did you see the crowd and hear the atmosphere [against Chelsea]?" he said.

That bit made me really buzz, it was special last night, and often you feel the players pay lipservice to the fans, if he said that exactly as quoted he sounds genuinely excited by it, and that in turn encourages me to give it more in the games ahead.

Original Dub wrote:

Im_Spartacus wrote:

and did you see the crowd and hear the atmosphere [against Chelsea]?" he said.

That bit made me really buzz, it was special last night, and often you feel the players pay lipservice to the fans, if he said that exactly as quoted he sounds genuinely excited by it, and that in turn encourages me to give it more in the games ahead.

Dead right mate.

Very uplifting, and although I'm not there every week like I wish I was, I think the crowd will draw on wed night's atmosphere and give it everything.

It's time to be champions, from top to bottom.

carl_feedthegoat wrote:Personally I hope the Munchenhausens lose the next 6 games.

Tokyo Blue wrote:Indeed. But why stop at six?

I like Nasri's comments though. Do your best and we'll still beat you.