Patrick Vieira heaps praise on Roberto Mancini: He is a winner and he will give everything to take Manchester City to higher levels

Patrick Vieira, Manchester City (Getty Images)

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Roberto Mancini is a winner and will do everything to take Manchester City higher, according to veteran midfielder Patrick Vieira.

Signed in 2010, the Senegalese born midfielder extended his contract for this season and despite being only a fringe player in his manager’s plans with only 13 league appearances during the campaign, Vieira insists the former Inter and Lazio manager has an abundance of qualities.

Quizzed on Mancini, Vieira told Absolute Radio: “He’s a winner. I think he’s the manager who has a big ambition and he will take everything to put this team higher, in the higher level. 

“He’s really committed to the team, to win something, so he’s really demanding. 

“He’s really aware of the tactical aspect of the game, and he really likes the players to know what they have to do when we have got the ball or when we don’t have the ball, so he’s someone really well prepared for the game.”

Vieira was unable to help his team-mates into the Champions League at the first time of asking but as the Eastlands club now sit comfortably in fourth spot, the former Arsenal man believes they are better prepared for Europe’s stiffest competition as a result of last year’s shortcomings.

He added: “I think the last season we were really close, and the way that we lost against Spurs just shows that the team wasn’t ready, maybe, to play the Champions League, but I think this year we learn a lot from last year, from this game against Spurs, because it was a home game and the win was enough and we didn’t. 

“So I think, you know, we always say that the best way to learn is when you have a defeat, and I think we take a lot from that defeat.”

As well as being tantalisingly close to Champions League football for the first time, City are only 90 minutes away from their first domestic trophy since the League Cup success in 1976, a 35-year wait for domestic silverware which Vieira is keen to end for the club’s long-suffering supporters.

Discussing City’s loyal fans, the 33 year-old added: “They are really passionate, and you can feel as well their frustration, you can see that they can’t wait to win the silverware, and as a player we will feel it, and I think when you see them come in at the stage over the last few years, every week committed to the football club and supporting the team, I think is unbelievable.

“So it will be a big relief for them and for the football club if we manage to win the silverware, because I don’t think any fans deserve it more than the City fans, because they’ve been unlucky in the last few years.”

Despite his desperation, Vieira concedes facing Stoke at Wembley is not a task to be taken lightly and the same work ethic which helped see off bitter rivals Manchester United in the semi-final will be needed.

He continued: “If people think that we’re going to win easily the FA Cup, it’s not going to be that easy. I think if we want to win the FA Cup we will have to work hard like we did against United.”