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The Premier League title race is as good as over for Manchester City and with no European football to speak of; manager Roberto Mancini is under massive pressure to turn the team’s fortunes around.
This weekend, they host Leeds United in the FA Cup 5th round and nothing but a victory will do. This is City’s only opportunity for silverware this season and Mancini will be determined to provide FA Cup success.
If he doesn’t, it is being suggested that his time at the club could come to an end. Despite guiding City to Premier League glory last season, former England defender Danny Mills thinks defeat to Leeds on Sunday could lead to the Italian’s departure.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Mills said: “It looks like they have blown their chances of retaining the title. You wonder what would happen if they went out of the FA Cup against Leeds.
“I think Roberto Mancini goes. I think Mancini will go in the summer anyway if they don’t win the league. But, if they go out of the FA Cup at this stage, I could see the owners making a decision sooner than that.”
You can certainly see where Mills is coming from, but it does seem harsh to suggest that Mancini – who has been a fantastic success since succeeding Mark Hughes – could get the boot after a poor few months.
It is true that City haven’t hit the heights of last season, while a club of their spending power will want to secure trophy after trophy. They are also desperate for some European success and Mancini hasn’t provided this.
To get the boot before the end of the season wouldn’t achieve too much though. It would be an extremely harsh punishment for a man that has brought such good times to the Etihad Stadium.
Who would they look to bring in if this was the case? They don’t want to become like Chelsea and appoint interim managers here, there and everywhere, so for the long-term stability of this club, sticking with Mancini – at least for now – has to be the way forward.
Mills is more accurate with his assessment that the City boss could leave in the summer though and perhaps the FA Cup will decide this for him.
If City are able to get to Wembley and win, there is enough for the Italian to build on for next year. He will want another shot at retaining the title and at making a more positive impact in the Champions League.
Should his team have nothing to show for their efforts though and the reports of player unrest are true, then perhaps he will consider his future. Does he want the hassle of the English media watching his every move next season?
The club itself could be forced into a decision too, especially if a certain Jose Mourinho becomes available.
For now, City need to be positive about how far they have come as a club. Rash decisions will not do anyone any favours, no matter what happens this weekend.
After assessing their progress in the summer and taking time to make a decision, perhaps Mancini will move on.
For now though, the Premier League Champions HAVE to be firmly behind their manager.
Written by Thomas Rooney from Footballtips.com.
