Roberto Mancini’s future as the Manchester City manager looks bleak, after City’s dream of playing in the UEFA Champion’s League came to an abrupt end at the hands of Tottenham last night.
Fat-cats Manchester City will have to settle for the Europa League next season after suffering a 1-0 loss to Spurs last night at the City of Manchester stadium. Peter Crouch’s late header settled where both clubs will be playing their European football next season and opened up the issue, why weren’t City able to reach their targets?
Roberto Mancini was brought from Inter Milan to replace Mark Hughes in hope of landing the fourth place spot for the sky blues…unfortunately he failed in his mission, and as a result, speculations are being created. So what does the future hold for the scarf-wearing Italian? Asked whether he would be staying on as the Boss of City, he told sky sports last night:
“I think so. It’s disappointing because I think we played a good game, a game we had to win or we went out of the Champions League.”
Having spent a colossal amount of money over the year, it has not brought City any success in the trophy category. However, Mancini believes that the team has improved in whole:
“I think we’ve had a good season because we’ll play in the Europa League next year and we’ve improved a lot. I’m disappointed with this result, but its football.”
It was reported that Mancini spoke to the chairman of the club, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, immediately after the game had ended. The chairman added that he shared the same disappointment as the players and staff did, Mancini told sky sports:
“He’s disappointed because we lost, this is normal. He said thank you to all the team, because for us it was a good season.”
Mancini has not been at the club for a long period, in fact he took charge just before Christmas…so can you really blame him for City’s demise this season? Without a doubt the blue side of Manchester have improved, their league position can vouch for this, but should the ex-Inter boss be given more time to rebuild or be given the chop?
City fans will be discussing this issue in their local pubs for the next few months. Some will say Mark Hughes should have never been sacked; others will give Mancini the benefit of the doubt and allow him more time in the hot seat. If he (Mancini) gets the sack then who would be a possible replacement and most importantly is it fair? There are managers out there that would jump at the chance to manage Manchester City, but, these managers will have to deliver or else they would face the same possible consequences that the current City boss faces today…uncertainty.
The Italian has been with the big-spending club for 6 months (if even that), and let’s face it, that’s not his side we’ve been watching this season, its Hughes’s side. The City boss did have the winter window to bring in players and he did just that. He brought in Patrick Vieira from Inter Milan and also signed Adam Johnson from Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee and since then has been a revelation for the club.
In modern football these days, cash plays a key factor for clubs. People believe that it should bring instant success…unfortunately this is not the case. Chelsea, at the time, were in the same boat as City. Chelsea had money to spend, yet it took years before they finally achieved success in the Premiership. In City’s case it’s the same. Time and effort will need to be invested into the club; they have wealth, a great manager (despite this season’s outcome) and players (providing the big names stay) that have potential to make the club a big one.
Roberto Mancini will need time to rebuild, whether he gets it, only the wealthy chairman will know.
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