Manchester City would be ‘crazy’ to fire me – Roberto Mancini

Roberto Mancini, Manchester City (Getty Images)

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Roberto Mancini believes that Manchester City would be “crazy” to relieve him of his position at the club.

The objective of the former Inter boss is to finish in the top four of the Premier League and so qualify for Champions League football, and he currently remains on course to achieve his goal.

But the Eastlands outfit are only three points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, with the two sides still to play against each other in Manchester.

It has been heavily speculated that the Italian could lose his job if he fails to guide City to Europe’s top table, but not surprisingly, Mancini himself believes that the club would be ill-advised to get rid of him – even if his charges do not get a chance to participate in the Champions League next season.

“Yes, it would be crazy to change the manager here because I have worked so very hard in the time that I have been at City,” said Mancini. “It was exactly the same when I went to Inter Milan. The first two years were terrible because I had to change the whole mentality of the club.

“Remember, Inter were a top club. They had won ­everything possible in the past, but there were many things I had to change to make them winners again. After the first two years we won ­everything.

“I know I can do the same here that I did at Inter and win everything.”

He added: “It is normal to be under pressure in ­England and Italy when you arrive in the last two months of the season. Every manager is talked about and their squad is ­examined.

“But I have a plan here and at the moment I am happy. I think in the last year we have become a good team and in the next few weeks we have the chance to ­really change our ­future.

“I speak to the owners and I think they are happy – but you will have to ask them.

“For me, it is only ­important at this moment to get into the Champions League and the FA Cup final. If you had told me at the start of the season that we would be so close to ­Chelsea and in the semi-final of the FA Cup at this stage of the season, I would have ­accepted that.”