Roberto Mancini admits to uncertainty about his Manchester City future
Manager praises club chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak • Says the club will soon win two or three titles a year
Roberto Mancini has admitted that he could lose his job at any moment but said that even if he were sacked as Manchester City manager he would still admire Khaldoon al-Mubarak and that any successor would be lucky to work with the club's chairman.
Mancini does not believe he will lose his position even if City fail to win the championship, claiming that the club will soon be winning multiple trophies each season. But of his relationship with Mubarak the Italian said: "My relationship with Khaldoon is fantastic. If he sacked me at the end of the season or next year, I would say that every manager who works with Khaldoon is very lucky. He is a really good man. This doesn't change my opinion about him or the club. But I don't have this problem because I will continue in my job. I'm sure that this club has arrived at the top. With two or three more players after this year, this club will start to win, and when it starts to win it will win two or three titles every year. Now it has arrived.
"I've been in this world for a long time and I know you can lose this job. But it's important to me that the squad have improved a lot over the last two years. We are progressing. I don't decide this [my future]. I do the best for my job and after I don't decide this situation."
City may be eight points behind Manchester United when they kick off at Arsenal on Sunday if the champions defeat Queens Park Rangers earlier in the afternoon, yet Mancini brushed off those who may be questioning his future. "I don't know this but it's not important for me," he said. "I have a one-year contract. I started this job two and a half years ago and since that moment we have improved a lot as a team, players and a club. This is important when you have a new team."
Is he sure, then, that Mubarak would also recognise this progress if the title is not won? "I hope so because of what's happened over the last two years," Mancini said. "But I know football very well and I left Internazionale after seven trophies with a four-year contract to the end [being sacked in 2008]. In football anything can happen in any moment. This championship can change in one week. The same regarding my future. When you choose this job you know that anything can happen in any moment. I don't have a problem with that because when you work hard for your job and improve your team, that's important."
Pressed that a strong finish is important even if City miss out on the Premier League Mancini said: "We can't think this now. We should think that we can still win the title. There are seven games to the end with one derby to play at home. I think we can win this title. It's important that we get the maximum points can. Last year we got 71 points and now we've got 71 with seven games left."Guardian
Inter refuse to rule out Balotelli move
Inter Milan have refused to rule out a sensational move for Mario Balotelli this summer.
The troublesome Manchester City striker has been in the headlines all season, with his off-field antics causing Roberto Mancini some frustration.
The Eastlands boss recently claimed he would have felt like punching Balotelli if the pair were team-mates.
The City manager has tried to nurture Balotelli following the fiery striker's £24m move from Inter Milan in 2010 but continues to be exasperated with the 21-year-old's antics.
And he could lose Balotelli this summer as Inter Milan are preparing a move, according to reports in Italy.
The Serie A side's technical director Marco Branca says the club will weigh up a move at the end of the season.
"Balotelli? We are now thinking about Fredy Guarin's press conference and the upcoming match against Cagliari," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"We will talk about that in one or two months." talkshyte
Tottenham boss Redknapp: Adebayor isn't a problem, but Balotelli is
The favourite for the England hotseat believes that the Italian's off-field antics present dilemmas for City boss Roberto Mancini and is glad that his own striker is well-behaved
The Togolese forward was said by some to be a disruptive influence during his periods at Arsenal and Manchester City but he has knuckled down to score 13 goals to aid Spurs in their push for the Champions League places.
It was well-documented that Adebayor was often a disruptive influence in the dressing room during his time at rivals Arsenal and at City, but he has changed his ways this season to score 13 goals and aid Spurs in their Champions League push.
Redknapp, however, argued that Balotelli, subject of several infamous controversies since moving to England, is actively hampering City's chances, telling The Daily Mirror: "Balotelli is not my problem, but he is a problem.
"He doesn't seem to want to behave too well, does he? It's a real problem - he has bags of talent, but I suppose when you sign him you know what you're getting because Jose Mourinho had him [at Inter] and he bombed him."
Adebayor, in contrast, has changed his ways, insists Redknapp, and has integrated into a determined, professional squad mindset at White Hart Lane.
"He has done ever so well for us. He has not been a minute's problem," the Spurs boss declared.
"If you've got one or two bad apples they can just ruin everything for you.
"I think that's where we were lucky again this year. We changed things around and the people I brought in made a big difference to the club.
"Scott Parker, Brad Friedel, Ryan Nelsen. They're all fantastic professionals. You aren't looking around thinking: 'Billy Big-Head - what's he doing today? Where's he been? What's he up to?'
"There is no-one like that here. They are good lads. That's been the difference. They have been key signings for us. We changed things around a bit and Manu [Adebayor] has come in and done the same."
Roberto Mancini on Manchester City future and title race
Roberto Mancini accepts his job may not be guaranteed long-term, even though he believes he has laid the foundations for Manchester City's future success.
His position has become the subject of speculation recently following a series of slip-ups as the title race hots up.
Mancini, who succeeded Mark Hughes in December 2009, said: "We have improved a lot as a team, as players, as a club.
"When you choose the job you should know anything can happen any moment but I don't have any problem with this."
Despite a sustained challenge for a first league title since 1968 and last season's FA Cup success - which ended a 35-year trophy drought - Mancini knows things can change very quickly.
City, having led the table for most of the season, now trail rivals Manchester United by five points with seven games remaining having only won once in their last four league matches.
While Real Madrid's former Chelsea and Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho has been linked with the Etihad there has been no suggestion from City's Abu Dhabi-based owners that they are considering a management change.
Mancini is thankful for that and enjoys working with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.
The Italian boss said: "My relationship with Khaldoon is fantastic. I can say if he sacks me at the end of the season or next year - I don't know - I can say every manager that works with Khaldoon is very lucky. Khaldoon is a really good man."
City face a must-win game at Arsenal on Sunday, shortly after the final whistle at Old Trafford, where United can open up an eight-point gap if they beat QPR.
Mancini has already conceded that the race would be over if City lose at Arsenal and Sir Alex Ferguson's men win.
But he is determined that will not happen and is convinced the gap can still be closed.
Mancini said: "If they [United] win all their games, congratulations, they deserve to win the title.
"But seven games from the end I think anything can happen.
"We lost four points in two games. It is possible that can happen to them."
City are hopeful top scorer Sergio Aguero will be fit to return after his much-discussed foot problem while Joleon Lescott will be welcomed back in defence after a hip injury.
Midfielder Samir Nasri is also available against his former club after missing last week's draw with Sunderland due to a family problem.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger , meanwhile, believes United will win a 20th title because they have men who can deliver when it comes to "money time".
Wenger remains impressed by their ability to dig out results when not firing on all cylinders.
"Manchester United are surprisingly in a comfortable position, no-one expected them to be because they did not look absolutely irresistible this year," he said.
"You could see that again on Monday night against Blackburn, but they managed to win the game.
"If Manchester United make it to the title, it is really down to experience."
Wenger added: "At Blackburn when [Ryan] Giggs came on in the last 15 minutes you thought 'they can only win it now' because they know how to deal with the money time, that means the last 15 minutes in football when it is 0-0."
Back off City! Wenger says sales to rival must stop as RVP is lined up next for Etihad move
Arsene Wenger has said it is time to stop selling Arsenal players to Manchester City.
The Arsenal manager has let Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri join City in the past four years, prompting jibes that the north London side are City’s feeder club.
Robin van Persie is the latest Arsenal player to attract interest from City’s owners but Wenger says enough is enough.
‘They have enough players there now,’ he said. ‘Am I flattered? More worried. But it’s a little bit of a normal process.
‘Van Persie and Manchester City? The question cannot be asked because you cannot contact anybody who’s under contract.’
But Wenger said he would take no extra pleasure from watching Arsenal beat City at the Emirates on Sunday, a victory the Frenchman conceded would make it ‘very, very difficult’ for City to win the Barclays Premier League title.
The Arsenal boss said City’s relative lack of experience of winning league titles, compared with their rivals Manchester United, has cost them this season.
Wenger said: ‘I believe this year the title at Man Utd, if they make it, is really down to experience.
The Arsenal manager also admitted for the first time that Marouane Chamakh could leave the club in the summer.
The striker was photographed smoking a shisha pipe with Queens Park Rangers midfielder Adel Taraabt in the week.
Wenger said: ‘At the moment it’s too early to answer (whether he will stay on). We want him to focus completely, without smoking, until the end of the season.’
CITY'S OTHER GUNNERS
Some of Manchester City’s boardroom and coaching team are also ex-Gunners. City’s football development executive Patrick Vieira, football administrator Brian Marwood and coaching duo Brian Kidd and David Platt all played for Arsenal. Mail
Hughes - City will win it
Hughes believes City have resources to win title in near future
Mark Hughes: Believes Manchester City have the resources to win the title eventually
.QPR boss Mark Hughes has backed his former club Manchester City to lift the Premier League title in the near future.
City blazed a trail in the early title race this season but have fallen off the pace, slipping five points behind rivals Manchester United with seven games to play.
Hughes, who won the Premier League title twice as a United player and also managed City until he was replaced by Roberto Mancini in 2009, believes the mega-rich Etihad outfit will lift the crown eventually.
He said: "At some point in the near future they will win it, without a shadow of a doubt. Because they have the resources to do it. It will happen for them.
"At some point in the near future they will win it, without a shadow of a doubt. Because they have the resources to do it. It will happen for them. "
"They have to go through the process of earning the right to win trophies. They have won one - the FA Cup - and that was a big step because you have to learn how to win trophies and the first one is difficult.
"It might take some time but they will get there."
QPR could do City a massive favour by beating United at Old Trafford on Sunday and Hughes believes it is vital for his relegation battlers to try and get the first goal.
He said: "You have to make sure you keep in the game and give yourself an opportunity to win it. If you go one or two goals down it becomes very difficult but United haven't been great this year when they have gone behind.
"In terms of winning from falling behind they are lower down than you would expect. That was surprising to me and we will take encouragement from that."
OTHER BOLLOX
Netherlands international Dirk Kuyt could be on his way out of Anfield in the summer
Liverpool could sell Netherlands forward Dirk Kuyt, 31, for just £1million in the summer as the club try to trim their wage bill. Daily Telegraph
Denmark international Christian Eriksen, 20, who has been linked with a move to Manchester United, thinks it would be better for his development if he stayed at Dutch club Ajax. Daily Mirror
Colombian winger James Rodriguez, 20, has told his club Porto that he wants to move to Manchester United. talkSHITE
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is prepared to spend £70m on Athletic Bilbao trio Oscar de Marcos, 23, Javi Martinez, 23, and Iker Muniain, 19. Caught Offside
Bolton manager Owen Coyle is considering a move for Stoke's Cameron Jerome, 25, but faces competition from Fulham for the £4million-rated striker. The Sun
Former Portsmouth forward Aruna Dindane, who plays for Qatari club Al-Gharafa, has been linked with a move to Blackburn, Stoke and Aston Villa. Sky Sports
Former Blackburn Rovers and Notts County manager Paul Ince has held secret talks about becoming the new manager of Wolves. Daily Star
Chelsea have written to the Football Association accusing them of putting supporter safety at risk by deciding to schedule the FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham at 6pm on Sunday. Daily Mail
Roy Hodgson is set to become the highest-paid manager in West Brom's history. Birmingham Mail
Bill Miller, chairman of Tennessee-based Miller Industries, the world's largest manufacturer of towing and recovery equipment, says he plans to "clean up" Rangers' potential £134m of debt and that liquidation is not an option he is considering as part of his takeover bid. The Herald
Businessman Bill Miller has confirmed he is the sole party in the American bid for Rangers after Club 9 Sports' attempts to involve him in a consortium disbanded and he hopes to take the club out of administration through a company voluntary arrangement and with Ally McCoist as manager. The Scotsman
Bill Ng, a director at private equity firm Financial Frontiers, says his Singapore consortium can offer Rangers' creditors 20p in the pound in a deal worth £20m - twice that being offered by former Rangers director Paul Murray's Blue Knights. The Sun
Singapore-based tycoon Bill Ng, who is chairman of Hougang United in his homeland, wants to take Rangers out of administration through a company voluntary arrangement, appoint a board of Scottish directors and avoid liquidation. Daily Express
Rangers owner Craig Whyte maintains he still has a £30m guaranteed stake in Rangers and that he will return to Ibrox one day. Daily Record
Following the disclosure that Rangers total debt could be as high as £134m, owner Craig Whyte says the club's liabilities decreased by more than £10m during his time as chairman. The Scotsman
Arsenal stars Wojciech Szczesny, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alex Song and Bacary Sagna perform with ballerinas in a new car advert.
Daily Mirror
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