ROBERTO MANCINI was last night sweating on his Manchester City future after
seeing his side flop dismally in the FA Cup final.
The Etihad chief awoke to reports that Malaga’s Manuel Pellegrini had been in
talks about replacing him next season.
He was angry that City had not killed off the rumours about Pellegrini.
And following the 1-0 Wembley defeat to Wigan, he said he will know his fate
after Sunday’s league game against Norwich, when his position is reviewed by
the club’s Abu Dhabi owners.
He said: “I know football and anything can happen. In one or two weeks you
will know if it’s true or not.
“If it’s not true then a lot of stupid things have been written. If it’s true,
then I’m stupid.
“It’s not my problem if I will retain my job.
MAN CITY coach hopes two wins from club’s last two league games can help make up for painful Wembley loss
“I will work at 100 per cent always. I am sure that we have done a good job
for three years. My contract is for four years — not one.
“You’ve continued to speak about this for the last six months and for the last
two weeks, it’s been too much.
“I don’t know why the club didn’t stop this.
“It’s rubbish, this speculation.
“But we will see in two weeks — maybe one week, when the season ends — if it’s
true.”
There has been no public backing for Mancini from chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak
or new chief executive Ferran Soriano and his director of football Txiki
Begiristain.
The club held a board meeting yesterday morning yet there were still no
assurances for the Italian that he will be in charge when next season kicks
off.
SUNSPORT duo Shaun Custis and Martin Blackburn hail Wigan’s super Spaniard at Wembley
Mancini admitted his team had been a long way below their best against a
superbly organised Latics.
But he defended the season which will see them finish as runners- up in both
Premier League and FA Cup.
He said: “How many teams did better than us this year? One. Maybe Swansea
makes two.
“I don’t think we played a good game. That’s unusual for us in a final. We
didn’t play our football and we had some problems.
“We didn’t deserve to lose but, when you concede a goal in the last minute,
it’s difficult.
“But we had two incredible chances to score. If we couldn’t win it, then I am
happy for Roberto Martinez.
“I am sorry for my players, the club and the supporters because there were
40,000 here.
“Our target when we started was to try to win the Premier League again. But I
think our mistakes started in the last month because we didn’t improve
enough.
“I am disappointed because I want to win every year but I know football well
enough to know why I didn’t win this year.
“I am responsible because I am the manager but last year Manchester United
didn’t win anything.
“Second position is a good year for us. It’s better to win the Community
Shield than nothing at all.”