
Manchester City to review Roberto Mancini's position at end of season
Eastlands sources unable to confirm manager will remain • Mancini confident of staying and is planning recruitment

The Manchester City manager, Roberto Mancini, believes that the club would have fared better this season if they had signed their targets last summer.
Roberto Mancini's reign as Manchester City manager will be reviewed at the end of the season, with sources at Eastlands unable to confirm he will still be in place next season. The Italian enters a defining week on Monday night with the derby at Manchester United followed by Sunday's FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea.
Mancini was given a five-year contract last summer to indicate the faith Sheikh Mansour has in him and City favour stability, so there is no sense that the owner will be panicked into a decision.
However, with City 15 points behind United in a disappointing championship defence and the failure to reach the Champions League knockout stages for a second successive year – the team finished bottom of their group – there remains doubt over Mancini's position.
The Italian will face an end-of-season review in Abu Dhabi, which is to be led by Khaldoon al-Mubarak, the chairman, and include Ferran Soriano, the chief executive, and the director of football, Txiki Begiristain. If United beat City on Monday evening , and Mancini's side are then knocked out of the Cup, the Italian's situation would be weakened.
There will be investment in players this summer, as the club strive to avert the mistakes of last year when none of their first-choice targets was landed. Mancini is sure that if those players had been bought – they include Robin van Persie, who instead moved to United – City would have enjoyed more success. Of the prospect of strengthening this summer, Mancini said: "I am sure we can do well this year, that we can do a good job in the market."
That suggests Mancini is confident he will remain in place. Yet with Begiristain and Soriano forming a new power base, there is a desire to ensure their first summer in charge of transfer policy involves the right manager, especially as Mancini hinted at the end of last week there could be a sizeable outlay.
"I don't know how much money we can spend," Mancini said. "I don't know this. But United in the past did spend a lot to buy important players. Now they don't need to spend every year, £100m. United are a top team, they just need to buy one top player every year because they are strong. For us it is different, we need to do it this way and may be in three or four years we need only buy one player in the summer because we have a strong team."
Inter Milan are reportedly interested in signing Tevez according to Italian source CalcioMercato.
The 29 year old Argentine has been linked with a possible Etihad Stadium exit as Roberto Mancini looks to re-shuffle his attacking pack and is the latest in a long line of apparent targets for the San Siro side who are keen to bring in a proven goal-scorer this summer.
The former West Ham and Man United man has recently been handed a community service order for driving whilst disqualified and without insurance but on the field of play has been in fine form of late, netting seven goals in his last six matches in all competitions.
Nerazzurri boss Andrea Stramaccioni has drawn up a list of potential summer additions to boost his firepower and Tevez joins the likes of Sampdoria forward Mauro Icardi and Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez as potential summer targets.
Man City will demand a hefty fee for Tevez, who cost the club around £30m and has scored 73 goals in 138 games since his move in July 2009.
Manchester Derby: Manchester City won't win anything without kids, says Gary Neville
Former United captain says Mancini must give his good young players a chance to develop
Explanations for the 15-point gap between the two Manchester teams grow more elaborate by the day, with Roberto Mancini even suggesting, as his City side prepare for the Old Trafford match that could all-but confirm their dethroning as champions tonight, that the mediocre teams have simply been too timid against Manchester United, in the last eight months.
The lack of self-scrutiny is remarkable from a manager who seems only to believe that all would be well had his club not failed him in last summer’s transfer market. Though reinforcements are needed this summer to deliver the width and counter-attacking pace which has been lacking in City and present in United, Gary Neville wonders why City do not simply look at the faith Sir Alex Ferguson has invested in young players and display the same themselves.
“I don’t know why they’ve not created a player in the last five years when Manchester City have won the [FA] Youth Cup and been in the latter stages of that competition,” Neville told The Independent. “I’ve seen players in their youth team when they’ve beaten United. You’ve got to create the pathway and at the moment I don’t see that pathway at City, whether the players are good enough or not.”
Placing trust in an 18-year-old is easier, of course, when you have the time, space and job security enjoyed by Ferguson. But after a season in which a bedrock of young players – Tom Cleverley, Jonny Evans, Rafael da Silva, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Danny Welbeck – have been integral to United’s imminent title, we are no closer to knowing how good the leading lights of City’s youth might be. Denis Suarez and Abdul Razak, the Spanish and Dutch midfielders have started one League Cup game apiece; Portuguese midfielder Marcus Lopes once appeared as a substitute. Karim Rekik and Jeremy Helan are on loan.
“Unless you play that 17-year-old British kid, the French or African kids that come over at the age of 14 to your academy, in your first team you are never going to find out about them,” Neville said. “If you asked me at the age of 17: ‘Are you good enough to play for Manchester United?’ I wouldn’t have had a clue, until I played. And to be fair, Sir Alex Ferguson wouldn’t have a clue, either. You might have the ability but until you test your temperament, desire and ability to compete and live at that level, you are never really going to know. Daniel Sturridge was good enough but he left. You can’t build a long-term future for a club unless you test these players and build a core.”
Mancini’s future beyond next month is unclear – Spanish director of football Txiki Begiristain and not the manager has featured mainly in City’s discussion of a new contract for Yaya Touré – but the Italian wants to plunge back into the transfer market for Napoli’s Edinson Cavani. Yet the 20 goals that City have lacked this season require more than another striker. Neville, tonight’s match analyst on Sky’s Monday Night Football programme where he has made a strong impact in his first season as a broadcaster, sees the 15-point deficit as about more than the “lazy” notion that Robin van Persie’s decision to sign for Ferguson has dictated the course of the title race.
“The difference for me between City and United this year is that City lack pace,” he says. “They rely on their passing game – and it’s a good one with creative players like David Silva, Samir Nasri, Carlos Tevez coming into those pockets off the front. But everything’s got to be perfect for it work and they’ve got to have space – whereas with United there’s a bit more. They’ve got width and they work the wide areas.
“On those occasions when the passing game isn’t quite right, City haven’t got the Plan B. Roberto Mancini has tried to go to five at the back but that’s very rarely worked. He hasn’t got many players in wide areas who can beat men. Silva, Tevez and Nasri all like to play in the field, so if you close that central area off they don’t really have anyone to stretch you out wide.
“In football terms, when you haven’t got real counter-attacking pace that can become a problem.”
Mancini would point to the failure to sign Eden Hazard, who went to Chelsea instead. It is a player in the bracket and mould of Real Madrid’s Angel di Maria who could make the difference. “You haven’t got anyone at City who runs past the centre-forward that much, only Yaya Touré really,” said Neville. “Yes, the problem this season has been scoring as many goals and for me that’s because when you watch City you know what’s going to happen.”
Neville also reflected on the marginal loss of what some in elite sport call “the edge”. “A huge weight was lifted off the shoulders of the club last May and I suppose in some ways you could argue it’s human nature for some at City just to go: ‘Wow. We did it. We got there’.” He does not ascribe great significance to Mancini’s tendency – observed often this season – to criticise his players publicly, something Ferguson does not generally do. “From my perspective, you would always argue it’s a misjudgement because I’m not sure how it’s going to get the players on-side. But nobody was complaining about that last season. I think he has a style which [Fabio] Capello had a bit in him: the Italian way – the Latin way – of speaking your mind.”
Ferguson certainly had something to say about his own players on the day City clinched the title last May. “I know my young players will learn from this and be lifting titles in years to come,” he said, and this registers most with Neville, his former captain. “You just see the development of young players,” he added. “Eventually they get it. The penny drops. Something happens. It happened with me. It happened with other young players. Eventually it just comes to you, that: ‘Right, I know what to do now, better than I did’.”
The Manchester derby is live on Monday Night Football from 7pm on Sky Sports 1HD and 3D
Wasted talent? Young City players left out in the cold
John Guidetti, 20
The Swedish striker has made one appearance – the League Cup defeat by West Bromwich in September 2010. Scored 20 goals in 23 matches on loan at Feyenoord, though injury has curtailed him.
Jeremy Helan, 20
Former France Under-16 midfielder signed from Rennes amid poaching claims, and now on loan at Sheffield Wednesday. Sources suggest that he was never seen at City as a guaranteed first-team star.
Dedryck Boyata, 22
Proof that investment of faith in a young player doesn’t always pay. Played only four Premier League games for Mancini after dismissal against Arsenal. Unconvincing on loan at Bolton and now on loan at Twente.
Former City striker Balotelli 'sure' Mancini will find a way to win at Old Trafford
Maverick striker Mario Balotelli is 'sure' his former club will win the Manchester derby.

The Italian, who now plays in the red and black of AC Milan rather than the sky blue of Manchester City, is confident that Roberto Mancini, with whom he shared an up and down relationship, can find a way to win again at Old Trafford.
He said: 'I am sure Roberto Mancini will find the right way to win the derby. I really hope City win.'
'I'm sure': Ex-Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is confident Roberto Mancini can find a way to win at Old Trafford
In last season's unforgettable 6-1 encounter, Balotelli produced one of the memonts of the season revealing his now famous 'why always me?' t-shirt after opening the scoring.
'The goal I scored at Old Trafford was a great moment in my career, like the goal I scored for Italy against Germany in the Euros,' he said in an interview with the club's website, mcfc.co.uk.
'As soon as I arrived at City, everyone talked to me about the derby as the game to win and the Old Trafford as the stadium to conquer... I understood that - and did it!
'I am sure me and Nigel (de Jong) will watch the game - perhaps not together - but we will both supporting our ex-teammates, the boss and the supporters big time: we want a win.'
Balotelli has found himself in unstoppable form since exiting the Etihad for the San Siro, with seven goals in his first eight matches for his new club.
'I have never watched the 6-1 defeat... why would I?'
ALEX FERGUSON admits he has never watched a replay of last season’s 6-1 Manchester derby humiliation — as he is not into ‘self-flagellation’.
But the United boss is certain there will be no repeat of the collapse which made October 23, 2011 such a nightmare day.
Almost 18 months have passed since City ran riot at Old Trafford and tonight’s clash promises to be a more sombre affair for them.
Fergie’s men have banished the memories of last term in stunning fashion by striding 15 points clear of the champions and it is now a matter of WHEN and NOT if they reclaim the title.
When asked about last season’s fixture he said: “Do you think I’m going to mention that? Jesus Christ. I can talk about our form this season, I think I will concentrate on that.”
But has he ever watched the video back? “No,” he added. “Why would I? I’m not into self-flagellation.
“It happened, we threw it away, committed suicide in the game. We were the better team until they scored just before half-time.
“Then we had a man sent off and kept chasing the game. That’s gone in the history books but it will be different on Monday.”
That was not the only bad City memory which haunted Ferguson during the summer break.
Losing the title with almost the last kick of the season to their neighbours also took some getting over.
Fergie admitted: “The way we lost it resonates with a lot of people in the club. I think any player who was involved would have to feel it.
“It sticks in your mind but the only thing you can do after that kind of thing is do better.
“That’s what the players did — they focused and their team spirit was terrific. There was a definite purpose in getting the title back. They’ve achieved a lot this season.”
Many people have pointed to City’s decline since winning the crown — they are currently eight points worse off than this time last season
Manchester Derby: Roberto Mancini claims Manchester United scare teams into submission
ROBERTO MANCINI believes teams are so scared of Manchester United they are beaten before they start.
City boss Mancini cranked up the stakes ahead of tonight’s Manchester derby by suggesting clubs have a “soft mentality” and roll over when they face United – but try harder against City.
Mancini said: “No one plays well against United because they only play with fear.
“Every team that plays against them plays very soft because they think this game is difficult – they can’t beat them. Their mentality is poor.
“They think they can do nothing. But it is not true. If you play strong against United, you can beat them like they can beat us.
“United are strong now because of this importance as a team, as a club. This is because United have been a strong team for a long time. For the other teams they play against, it is difficult.”
Mancini was stunned by Sunderland’s limp display against United last Saturday that prompted Martin O’Neill’s dismissal.
Roberto Mancini thinks Man City would be champions if the likes of Robin Van Persie had joined
Sunderland have beaten City three years running at the Stadium of Light and were the only team to take a point at the Etihad Stadium last season.
But Mancini admits City do not carry the same fear factor for opponents yet because they have not been at the top for as long as their neighbours.
“We are young as a team and we don’t have the same importance like United yet,” he said. “The history is very important. We can’t do this in two years but maybe in 10 years.”
Mancini refuses to accept that United are a better team than City, even though they could stretch their lead to 18 points by completing the double over them tonight.
“We know we can beat them because they are not better than us,” he said. “This is sure, 100 per cent. We deserved to win the game at the Etihad Stadium [in December]. Like them we are a strong team. There is no difference.”
Mancini maintains that, had he been able to sign top targets such as Robin van Persie, Eden Hazard and Javi Martinez last summer, City would have retained the crown.
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Van Persie was never going to Man City, insists Man Utd boss Ferguson
Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson insists Robin van Persie was never close to joining Manchester City last summer
Alex Ferguson insists Robin van Persie was never close to joining Manchester City last summer ahead of his eventual transfer to Manchester United.
The Netherlands striker moved to the Red Devils in a £24m deal from Arsenal in August, amid reported interest from Roberto Mancini’s side.
Van Persie, 29, has gone on to score 23 goals in his first season at Manchester United – and Ferguson insists the Dutchman was not considering a move to the Eithad Stadium
“It’s hypothetical, he was never going to City,” said Ferguson ahead of Monday’s derby showdown with City at Old trafford.
“He’s been fantastic for us, a really good footballer. We needed a bit of maturity up front and he’s been terrific.
“The improvement is not just through Robin but even when he doesn’t score he’s a fantastic footballer.”
Ferguson’s comments come after City boss Mancini claimed that missed signings in last summer’s transfer window have cost his side the title this season.
“We would probably be at the top… probably also in a Champions League quarter-final,” said Mancini.
“We had a chance to get three or four players that would have improved our team but now it is finished with.”
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