Manchester City sacked manager Roberto Mancini after three and a half years at the Etihad
Just 24 hours after Sir Alex Ferguson took charge of his final Manchester United game at Old Trafford, a 2-1 win over Swansea City that saw Rio Ferdinand score his first goal in five years, there was another managerial departure just six miles across the city.
Roberto Mancini was unsurprisingly sacked as boss at the Etihad after they allowed United to runaway with a 13th Premier League title, whilst they were embarrassed by Wigan Athletic on Saturday as they scored in added time to lift the FA Cup.
Substitute Ben Watson’s goal ultimately sacked the 48-year-old Italian, who left City’s temporary training base of Loftus Road alone yesterday.
A statement on Manchester City’s official website read: “[Mancini] had failed to achieve any of the club’s targets, with the exception of qualification for next season’s Champions League.”
The departure of Mancini, who spent three and a half years at City, has raised speculation that Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini is in-line to the departing manager at the helm.
However, Pellegrini, who has previously managed Real Madrid has distanced himself with any rumours that a deal between him and City has already been completed.
Manuel Pellegrini the Malaga boss many expect will replace the departing Mancini
“I deny here and now being the new coach of Manchester City,” he said.
“I haven’t signed any agreement with anybody.”
With Blues fans witnessing a dismal season which saw them finish trophy less and over 10 points behind local Rivals United, it is no surprise that the hierarchy at the Etihad have acted quick to relieve Mancini of his duties.
Since joining the club in 2009 after replacing Mark Hughes as manager Mancini won the FA Cup in 2011, the Community Shield and the Barclay Premier League all just once.
Questions have been raised surrounding the relationship the now-former Manchester City boss had with his players. Mancini has had public confrontations with a number of players at City, with the most notable coming with a player that he sold in the January transfer window, Mario Balotelli.
Pictures showed the pair having to be separated during a January training session, whilst Carlos Tevez was also summoned by the City chief after he apparently refused to come off the bench during a Champions League match in 2011.
Mancini went on to say Tevez was “finished” at the Etihad, yet he later forgave him.
Goalkeeper Joe Hart and midfielder Samir Nasri also came into Mancini’s firing line. The England shot-stopper was rebuked after he criticised City earlier this season following a 3-2 defeat against Real Madrid.
Whilst, Mancini claimed he wanted “to punch” Nasri following a 4-0 win at Newcastle after he claimed the Frenchman was too inconsistent.
Former City defender Danny Mills told BBC Radio Five Live: “There wasn’t the togetherness between player and manager.
“Basically, Mancini just ignored players from day one. He was the manager, he made decisions, he made no attempt to have any sort of relationship with the players, didn’t take them under his wing.
“It was very much, ‘I’m the manager, I’ll do my thing, I’ll pick the team and then I’ll disappear’.
“You speak to the players and you know there’s a lot of discontent in that dressing room. They’ll say it wasn’t a particularly happy camp at times, there were a lot of different factions in that dressing room.”
Mills, who represented City between 2004 and 2009, added: “You need to understand the players, you need to know what makes them tick. You have never heard the players come out and back their manager and that sticks in the mind.
“You cannot come out and criticise your players publicly. Arsene Wenger doesn’t do it at Arsenal and Sir Alex Ferguson doesn’t do it at Manchester United. We know he kicks boots, or gives them the hairdryer, he might even have had the odd punch-up, but in public he protects his players.
Mancini and Mario Balotelli get into a training ground fight
“Why didn’t those top players, such as Robin van Persie, who City were linked with, go there in the summer?
“They were in the Champions League, they were the champions of England, they pay more money than anybody else. Why would you not go there unless it wasn’t a happy place to be?”
Meanwhile BBC Radio Five Live’s senior football reporter Ian Dennis’ view mimics that of Mills.
“What has gone against him is his man-management style,” said Dennis.
“It is other issues other than performance which have undermined him. When you look at the flashpoints that Mancini has had this season, that gives you an indication of the difference in holistic approach that City are looking for.”
Mancini’s assistant manager Brian Kidd, who won four Premier League titles with Manchester United as Ferguson’s right-hand man, will take charge of their remaining two games of the season but with speculation continue to rise about the man who will be at the helm next season it remains unclear if Kidd will be following Mancini out of the door.
Chilean Pellegrini is the bookmakers favourite for the Etihad hot-seat as he is currently best priced at 1-3 with SkyBet whilst his odds are as low as 1-9 with leading on-street bookmaker William Hill.
Jose Mourinho, whose time at the Bernabéu seems limited, is best priced at 7-1 for the job. However, he is odds on favourite to return to Stamford Bridge where he endured much success with Chelsea.
Words: Adam Grice
Photos: forzaitalianfootball.com and caughtoffside.com
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