Manchester City remain relaxed about the contract situation of Roberto Mancini and are not considering replacing him with Jose Mourinho, even if the Italian manager fails to win a trophy this season.
City exited the Europa League in midweek leaving the pursuit of Manchester United for the Premier League this season's sole chance of silverware.
The club considers Mancini one of the top five managers in world football and see no value in ending a relationship they believe will deliver major titles in future campaigns, if not this one.
The executive team has been impressed by Mancini's readiness to take blame upon himself for recent failures, although their long-term commitment to the manager will be tested by a willingness to renew a contract that expires next year.
To date there have been no formal talks about an extension.
City find themselves in a position where they may face a resurgent Chelsea on Wednesday night four points adrift of United and there has been a degree of resistance to Mancini's management amongst the squad.
Some players complain that the Italian remains a distant figure, his training sessions are not enjoyable, and that the team's tactics do not properly exploit the talent available to him.
An aspect of Patrick Vieira's role as football development executive has been to provide a conduit between squad and manager.
Though his default position is to resist changing management, City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed has demonstrated his readiness to act when judged necessary.
Less than two weeks ago Al Jazira, the UAE Pro League club he is chairman of, dismissed Franky Vercauteren as coach seven months after appointing the Belgian because of a breakdown in the relationship with players.
Mourinho is open to offers from Premier League clubs having taken the decision to leave Real Madrid this summer.
Yet the City hierarchy have concerns over the long-term legacy he would offer the club and the cost of employing a coach who earns over €10 million (Dh 48.39m) a year after tax in Spain.
Mourinho is seriously considering an approach from Tottenham Hotspur.
Potentially more appealing to City, however, is Pep Guardiola's less confrontational style of management.
The Barcelona coach has yet to decide on extending his contract at Camp Nou into a fifth season, but is expected to take a year's sabbatical from football even if he decides against it.
Bayern Interested In Mancini’s £27M Goal Machine
Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko has been linked with a return to the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, according to reports in Italy.
Dzeko joined the club from Wolfsburg in January 2011 for £27million. Whilst in Germany he scored at a rate of more than a goal every two games (66 in 111) and was the Bundesliga’s Players’ Footballer of the Year in 2008-09.
The Bosnian has a similarly excellent scoring rate with City (15 in 37 to date) but may be surplus to requirements come the summer as City continue to look to improve their squad. Although City are often cited as being threatened by FIFA ’s Financial Fair Play legislation, the full effects of this will not be felt until the 2013-14 season.
With City’s title bid faltering at Swansea last week and the team crashing out of the Europa League in midweek, failure to secure a trophy this season would give extra impetus to squad rebuilding over the summer.
Bayern, who are currently in second place in the Bundesliga, look like a good fit for Dzeko and there is certainly a strong possibility of the Bosnian lining up against his current team mates in next season’s Champions League.
Mancini warned against playing 'volatile' Tevez
Former Manchester City forward Rodney Marsh says bringing back the controversial Argentine striker will only hurt the Blues' stuttering title challenge
Roberto Mancini has been urged not to bring Carlos Tevez back into the Manchester City team by Rodney Marsh, a former controversial striker at the club himself.
Marsh arrived at Maine Road in 1972 as the supposed final piece of the jigsaw which would bring the league title to the blue half of Manchester.
However, he was blamed for unsettling the team as they went on to finish fourth in the old first division that year.
The 67-year-old now fears that if Tevez makes his return against Chelsea on Wednesday as expected, it could backfire as it did 40 years ago.
Marsh told ESPN: "I wouldn't bring him back because he is so volatile, because there are so many negatives around him which reflect on the football club and the team.
"Of course it is a tough call for Mancini, and he is the only person who can judge what is best for the team."
Marsh believes all the attention will be on Tevez, even if he is on the bench and that could subtract from the players on the pitch as well as the rest of the team.
He added: "Just imagine Tevez sitting on the bench, where he will inevitably start, all eyes trained on him, every TV camera, every journalist looking at his reaction when his manager calls for him to warm up."
Hart: Manchester City's Balotelli probably the best penalty taker in the world
Joe Hart has labelled his Manchester City teammate Mario Balotelli as "one of the best" penalty takers he has ever faced, claiming his spot kicks are "almost impossible to stop".
Hart saved Scott Sinclair's penalty in City's 1-0 defeat to Swansea, but conceded that he never gets close to saving spot kicks taken by Balotelli in training.
The Italian scored his most recent penalty against Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League as City were eliminated on away goals.
Hart told the club's official website: "Yeah, I hate to say it, he’s one of the best I’ve ever faced.
“He's got this mad ability where he doesn't need to look at the ball. If you don't move he kicks it in the corner; if you do move he kicks it the other way – it’s almost impossible to stop."
However the 24-year-old goalkeeper revealed that he fancies his chances against Balotelli if they were ever to meet in a competitive match.
He added: "I need to get inside his head and I reckon if England played Italy, I would be able to stop him!”
Mario Balotelli has scored every penalty he has taken for Manchester City including a high pressure last minute winner against Tottenham Hotspur.
Kolo Toure keen for 'fighter' Carlos Tevez to return to Manchester City side
Manchester City defender Kolo Toure "can't wait" for Carlos Tevez to return to action.
Tevez is being considered for a possible first-team comeback in next Wednesday's Barclays Premier League clash against Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.
The Argentinian has not played for City since September but has been back in training for the past month following the closure of his infamous dispute with the club.
Toure said: "He is a great player and I can't wait to see him play in this team.
"He's a fighter, he is a strong character and his quality is fantastic. For me, I can't wait."
The return of Tevez could give City's Barclays Premier League title bid a lift after they were knocked off the top of the table following defeat at Swansea last weekend.
City now trail Manchester United by a point with 10 games remaining and Tevez's availability gives them the extra option of their top scorer for the past two seasons in the run-in.
The Premier League is now City's sole focus after they were eliminated from the Europa League.
Roberto Mancini's men produced a stirring late fightback against Sporting Lisbon in the second leg of their last-16 tie but their 3-2 home win meant only a 3-3 aggregate draw and elimination on away goals.
Toure, speaking to broadcast media after the match, said: "In the first half it wasn't Man City. We didn't run, it was as simple as that, and when you don't run you can't win anything.
"The second half was much better and we need to play like that in every game, for the whole game.
"We don't want to lose the Premier League. It's going to be fantastic. This team will fight with all our power and give all we have."
'I thought it was in' - Joe Hart almost the hero for Manchester City
Manchester City Ace Would “Love” Summer Tottenham Transfer
Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor says he would love to stay at Tottenham Hotspur, having spent the whole of the season on loan there.
“I’ve still got a contract with Manchester City and I’m a professional – whoever I play for I have to give it everything, and that’s what I’m doing now at Tottenham. I would love to stay here but the power doesn’t belong to me.
“I’m waiting for the summer to see what happens next. I just have to play well, make myself and my family happy. As long as I’m happy where I am, there is nothing more important than that,” the Togo international forward told ESPN.
Adebayor has scored 11 goals in 25 Premier League appearances for Spurs this season, and that statistic coupled with his 11 assists for the North London make for an impressive stint at White Hart Lane.
Harry Redknapp has declared his delight at the impact Adebayor has made whilst at Tottenham, but also indicated that the club may be priced out of a deal.
The obstacle would not just be the likely sizeable transfer fee, but the fact that Adebayor is paid the astronomical sum of £225,000 every week – which Manchester City are helping subsidise during his loan spell.
“[Adebayor] has done well for us,” said Redknapp in December.
“He has worked hard but he is on amazing money.
“The other week, one of the lads told him that he had not paid his £50 fine for being the worst player in training on a Friday morning. One of the lads said to him: ‘Bloody hell, Ade, you are on 200 grand a week and you can’t afford to pay a £50 fine!’ He replied: ‘Don’t insult me, it’s 225!’
“He certainly isn’t getting that here!”
Miami advice as Manchester City create pitch in home of US baseball star Alex Rodriguez
Manchester City are pitching for a new generation of players – in the home of one of the US’s biggest baseball stars.
The Blues have teamed up with a youth club in Miami, in their third partnership with an American city.
The United Arab Emirates embassy in the US has donated a pitch to the Hank Kline Boys and Girls Club, as part of its partnership with City.
And Blues coaches will head to Florida to train youngsters in the art of scoring goals, not home runs. The club, in an underprivileged area of Miami, was training ground for a young Alex Rodriguez, who now plays for the New York Yankees.
Regarded as one of baseball’s best-ever all-rounders he has been named the American League’s Most Valuable Player three times.
But under the watchful eye of Blues ambassador Mike Summerbee a FIFA-approved synthetic surface has now been laid at the club – giving hundreds of kids the chance to play football for the first time.
In 2010 the Blues and the UAE embassy splashed out £160,000 to lay a rooftop pitch on a school in Spanish Harlem, New York. And last year they donated another pitch to a club in Los Angeles.
Alex Rodriguez-Roig, executive director of the boys and girls clubs of the Miami-Dade county, said: "We are incredibly thankful and excited for this gift. Bringing the sport of soccer to this community will give our kids a terrific opportunity to learn this wonderful game from a world-class organisation.
"Our entire area will benefit from this soccer field now and for generations to come."
Sarah Lynch, managing director of City in the Community, said: "Everyone who gets involved with our club becomes part of the ‘City family’, and for that reason, we’re delighted to extend our reach into the Miami-Dade community."
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Wayne Rooney: beating Man City would make title more satisfying
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney says winning the Premier League this year would be more satisfying because of Manchester City's challenge.
Rooney said United' s "dented pride" in the 6-1 home thrashing by City, and watching their neighbours top the table since October, has spurred them on.
"We have stuck in there and kept going, kept working and we've gone above them," he told BBC Football Focus.
"If we can win this league it will be very satisfying for all the players."
Asked directly whether it would make it more satisfying to win this season because they would be beating City, Rooney was emphatic.
"Yes, of course," he said. "There was one stage [when] we weren't expected to win the league, which is mad when you are talking about Man United.
"It is great we are back on top and the aim is to stay there."
Reflecting on the "nightmare" defeat by City in October, Rooney admitted the result had really hurt.
"Yes, of course. It dents your pride," he said.
"We are all proud people and we don't want to lose like that, particularly at home against your closest rivals. It was a nightmare game for us.
"It was important we came back well and strong from that. I think the next six games after that were one-nil victories, which was important so we put it out of our minds and look forward.
"I hope we don't experience a day like that again."
The 26-year-old's rich form has helped United climb above Roberto Mancini's side, and he scored one of his best goals of the season on Thursday in the club's otherwise disappointing Europa League exit to Athletic Bilbao.
And Rooney said that consistency and happiness has been the key to his 28 goals in 33 games for the club in all competitions this season.
"I am happy [and] I am playing well," he said. "The team are playing well and I am really settled and enjoying my football.
"It's important you try and get that consistency, which I feel over the last few years I've managed to do better than when I first started playing."
Rooney also said that he was looking forward to playing in Euro 2012 with England, and finding out who gets the manager's job.
The forward, who had tweeted that he wanted Harry Redknapp to be given the job, also added he plans to have a greater influence in the dressing room as he will be missing the first two games of the Championships because of suspension.
"I have to make sure I am getting among the players and in the spirit and try to be more of a person round the dressing room and hotel to get people to relax more, as well as on the pitch when I come back," he said.
Roman Abramovich is still set to wield the axe this summer, with stars including striker Didier Drogba, 34, and defenders Ashley Cole and John Terry, both 31, likely to be under threat. the Sun
Tottenham will do everything possible to bring in Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho as manager if Harry Redknapp takes the England job. Daily Mirror
Italian giants Juventus have set aside a £30m transfer war-chest to acquire a world-class striker, with Liverpool's Luis Suarez, 25, and Arsenal's Robin van Persie, 28, topping their wanted list. Metro
Manchester United will offer around £19.1m to Ajax for their young Denmark stars, 20-year-old attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen and 17-year-old forward Viktor Fischer. Caughtoffside
Fulham manager Martin Jol has ruled out any chance of making a move for Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov, 31, because he believes he will only leave for another top side. talkSPORT
Sheffield Wednesday want former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler, 36, to spearhead their League One promotion push. Daily Mail
Alessandro del Piero's agent says the 37-year-old striker could be set for a summer move away from Juventus, with Arsenal reportedly interested. Sky Sports
Manchester United face a battle with Bayern Munich and mega-rich Russian club Anzhi to land 23-year-old Brazilian defender Dede from Vasco da Gama. talkShite
Tottenham are ready to meet a reported £35m buyout clause to sign Lille's 21-year-old playmaker Eden Hazard and help their bid to stay in the top four over the coming seasons. Daily Mirror
Southampton and Derby County are tracking Everton striker Conor McAleny, 19, who is available on a free transfer at the end of the season after failing to agree new terms with the Merseysiders. Daily Mail
World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, 24, says he has no ambitions to move to the Premier League because he wants to stay at Barcelona for the rest of his career. Sky Sports
Tottenham's Gareth Bale, 22, misses playing in the Champions League but believes Spurs will qualify as their losing run is just a blip. the Guardian
Senegal striker Papiss Demba Cisse, 26, has told Newcastle fans and manager Alan Pardew that he can handle the pressure of wearing the number nine shirt after he was dropped for their last game at Arsenal. Daily Mail
Michael Essien's future at Chelsea depends on who they appoint as the next Stamford Bridge manager, according to the 29-year-old midfielder's agent. talkShite
Wolves players will be shown a 'secret' exit door out of Molineux - if there is another hostile reaction from fans. Daily Mirror
Arsenal striker Park Chu-Young , 26, will not have to join the South Korean army to complete his compulsory military service. Metro
West Bromwich Albion manager Roy Hodgson has revealed he has turned down a job at Euro 2012 - after promising his wife a holiday. Express & Star
