Mancini dismisses sack claims

Roberto Mancini has denied claims his Manchester City job could be on the line this weekend by saying his critics "don't understand football".

Last Updated: 15/02/13 at 14:47 Post Comment   

Roberto Mancini: Doesn't think he is in line for the sack

Roberto Mancini: Doesn't think he is in line for the sack

Manager Specials

So who will replace David Moyes as manager of Everton after his appointment as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor at Manchester United? Wigan's Robert Martinez heads the betting. Check out the latest odds

Some pundits have suggested Mancini could face the sack if City, whose Premier League title defence is faltering, are knocked out of the FA Cup by Leeds this weekend.

Former City and Leeds defender Danny Mills has even said a successor could be appointed by Thursday if Mancini's last realistic hope of winning silverware is ended.

Mancini, speaking at a press conference to preview the fifth-round tie, said: "We started our project three years ago.

"In three years we are always on the top - we fight for the title, we have won three trophies, we have the chance to win more this year.

"All the people who talk about this don't understand football.

"Because if Manchester City should sack me, the other 20 teams in the Premier League should be without a manager."

Mancini, who succeeded Mark Hughes in December 2009, ended City's 35-year trophy drought by guiding them to FA Cup success in 2011.

He followed that by overseeing a first title win in 44 years last May and then added an additional trophy in the Community Shield.

Yet last weekend's 3-1 loss at struggling Southampton, after which Manchester United extended their lead at top of the table to 12 points, has brought renewed speculation over Mancini's position.

When told he had been criticised by "former City players", Mancini responded by saying they were "probably the players that won a lot of trophies in the history".

It's a fairly simple equation for the owners, who have to balance stability, and what they expect to be achieved with £1bn in a league where nobody else could afford even a quarter of that. I don't think they expect to be 12 points behind their considerably worse-off rivals for that kind of money. But the devil is in the detail, as ever. In football you will get beaten by weaker teams, you can have the best squad by a distance and come second, and a £50m player can be a flop. All you can do is minimise these risks with shrewd decision-making, fantastic man-management and coaching, and so on. Does Mancini look to the owners like someone who did everything right, and was unfortunate, or does he look like the wrong man for the job? We will find out one way or another in Summer I think. He deserves a couple more years to build something lasting, but if I were him I wouldn't keep harping on about things like how RVP is 'the difference' (when Mancini spent over £20m on a player ten times in the last four years), how he needs to rebuild in the summer (when he has an embarrassment of riches that aren't playing to their potential under his management), or how everything is 'difficult' for City. That would p**s me off if it were my billion that had just been spent.
- big dave

TEAMtalk Facebook Fan Page

The TEAMtalk fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

I

m absolutely disgusted that I've been misquoted in saying that if a chance came up to join Arsenal I would be interested. What I meant to say is if Man United or Chelsea were interested......

gulliver
Agent cools Benteke exit talk

L

FC league positions and points from last 4 seasons - 7 (61), 8 (52), 6 (58), 7 (63). Werner calls it progress, I call it mid table stability.

kolev_lfc
Reds progress delights Werner

I

s there a PR agency covering Begovich, Odemwingie, Steven Fletcher and Grant Holt or something? Why would you offer a quote like that without having been announced by either club. #headsshoulderskneesandtoesgone

Havelange
Begovic hints at Liverpool move

Footer 365

Blackburn appoint Gary Bowyer as manager on 12-month rolling contract

Blackburn have confirmed the appointment of Gary Bowyer as the club's new manager on a 12-month rolling contract.

Inter Milan appoint Walter Mazzarri as coach after sacking Andrea Stramaccioni

Inter Milan have named Walter Mazzarri as the club's new coach on a two-year contract after sacking Andrea Stramaccioni.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis clarifies Rafa Benitez comments

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has clarified earlier comments regarding a deal being agreed with Rafa Benitez.

Mail Box

Wayne Rooney Is Just An Average Athlete

That's the difference between him and someone like Cristiano Ronaldo - his body just isn't right. We have mails on him, Sparky, Brendan Rodgers and the Europa Lge...

Saving The Europa League And More...

Nice one UEFA, but not far enough. We have some ideas to make the Europa League better as well as more views on Wayne Rooney, Vermaelen in midfield and...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved