Vincent Kompany has warned Chelsea Manchester City are ready to hold their nerve "as usual" and go the distance in the title race.
Last weekend's 1-1 draw between the top two at Stamford Bridge maintained Chelsea's five-point lead with 15 games to play.
But Kompany insists that is small beer to a City side that overhauled leaders Liverpool to win last season's Premier League and made up an eight-point deficit in just six games to pip Manchester United to the 2012 title.
"This is just such a usual situation for us," the City captain told Sky Sports News HQ. "Five points behind in January or February? Big deal.
"We feel very comfortable, we've been in this position many times before. We don't get over-excited, we don't get over-confident or too desperate, either. I can't remember ever leading.
"I'd love to be 20 points clear, but it is what it is. Fair play to Chelsea if they win every game until the end of the season - by all means, win the league. But there'll be some tricky games coming up, and we're better in those moments."
Kompany rates that 2012 success against Sir Alex Ferguson-era United as a major achievement, but he acknowledges the quality in a Chelsea side that had not dropped a point at home until Saturday.
"I think Chelsea now look solid, like they know what they're doing. They have experience and a lot of great players, but we have it too."
No one at City is more experienced than Frank Lampard, Chelsea's all-time leading goalscorer whose surprise move to the Etihad has proved a success.
Lampard's goals have added five points to his side's total already this season, and Kompany said: "A player like this in your ranks is a great addition, and he's so hungry still. I'm amazed at how good he is.
"He wasn't just good in the games. You've not seen the training sessions! We have experience with winning trophies, but Frank Lampard has more experience again.
"He comes in and you just feel straight away that he knows what it's about. I think for our team he was refreshing, and it was refreshing for him as well."
