Manchester City’s Patrick Vieira: I don’t think Roberto Mancini’s future can even be an issue

Patrick Vieira & Roberto Mancini – Manchester City (Getty Images)

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Manchester City midfielder Patrick Vieira says the future of boss Roberto Mancini should not be an issue.

With only Stoke City standing in the way of City’s first trophy in 35 years and Champions League football now secured at Eastlands for next term, Vieira believes the Italian’s future should not even be up for debate.

Vieira told The Times: “I don’t know what they asked from him upstairs, but we have the Champions League, an FA Cup Final and clear improvement.

“I don’t think the manager’s future can even be an issue. All you can ask is to improve year on year and we are one step higher. You can see that. The results are proof.”

Mancini spent heavily on new players at the start of the season, including signing Mario Balotelli from Inter. And Vieira believes the controversial Italy international will become an asset for the club once he settles in England.

“He’s young, it’s his first season, first year out of Italy,” added Vieira.

“There’s the language, being away from his family, being lonely. He’s proud as a person and people think he’s arrogant. He isn’t. He just has to think a bit more about the team and to learn football in this country. It’s different from Italy, more demanding of a striker. He’ll learn that. What really matters is whether someone is a good player or not. He’s a good player.”

With City only scoring one goal or less in 21 of their 36 Premier League matches this season, Mancini has earned critics for his side’s defensive brand of football.

But Vieira says the manager will change the team’s style of play once the players have developed an understanding.

“The manager was a flair player. And I believe in the next few years he’ll want the team to play more like that,” the 34-year-old added.

“Be patient. Build like a house, they say. The foundations, the defence, the organisation. Then you can add more. There are young players and they need to grow together. We have changed so many players and you need time to build trust and understanding.”

Mancini has guided his side to fourth place this season, and fans are now looking up the table at Vieira’s former club Arsenal in the knowledge that an overhaul of the two-point gap between the sides would secure an immediate spot in the group stage of the Champions League next season.

Quizzed on Arsenal, Vieira added: “When they are in trouble, they always concede a goal. A big team when it’s under pressure, it pulls together, it makes the trouble go away.

“Sometimes you know you have difficult periods, even the best teams. You accept the opponent is stronger, you defend, you stay strong, more compact. You accept you have to suffer.

“Some days are like this. It’s not your day. Accept it and find a different way to win. Fight for each other. It’s not the way you want, but what’s important is to win.”