Manchester City coach David Platt: Roberto Mancini’s winning drive is obsessive

Roberto Mancini, Manchester City

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Manchester City’s first team coach David Platt has revealed that manager Roberto Mancini has an obsessive winning drive and mentality and that he never stops working.

The 44-year-old has known the Italian boss for almost two decades and they have been close friends since their time at Sampdoria from the 1993-95 season.

The duo worked on making City a contender for the major trophies this season and have landed the FA Cup, while also securing qualification for the Champions League next term.

He told The Sun: “He is incessant in his work, never stops.

“I have a place 400 yards away from his in Sardinia and this summer I’ll be pretending I’m out because he’ll be knocking on the door all the time.

“It won’t be a holiday!

“Roberto’s mentality is to win, to create a club that is capable of winning trophies.

“It is what drives him on, it is what drove him on at Sampdoria as a player when he had a chance to move to bigger clubs.

“At Sampdoria, he was part of a team that could get to the European Cup final against Barcelona and he enjoys that more than doing it with a club that is already successful.

“I knew him as a player and I always thought I was competitive and had a winning mentality but he is on a different level.

“He pushes you – and you end up going further with it. His winning drive and mentality is obsessive.

“He is incessant with it and his demands are so high that he can be taken the wrong way sometimes.

“Because he has done it at Inter, he knows he just has to continue along his road and hope the people come with him.”

Platt insists Mancini is aware that City’s squad requires further development and reveals the club’s ambition next term is to win the Premier League.

“I don’t think Roberto ever sits there and gloats about what he has won.” Platt added.

“When has he spoken about the three titles he won on the trot at Inter?  

“All he has spoken to me about is the first Italian Cup they won because he says that is what kicked them on.

“He believes we can win the title next season. Roberto knows we must improve the squad.

“You need the ability to go away in the Champions League and play a mentally and physically
strong game and be able to come back and take three points at the weekend.”