On 19th December 2009, Roberto Mancini was hand picked by Sheik Mansour as the general to lead his new army into battle. Mark Hughes had neglected City's defence like an alcholic mother and a fix of that famous Italian solidity was what the club craved.
His availability was remarkable. The Italian had won 7 trophies in 4 years with Inter Milan, leading them to three back-to-back title wins and two back-to-back Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana victories. He may have been regarded as a 'cup specialist', but the father of three also knew how to win titles.
With his neck wrapped in what would become his trademark sky blue and white striped scarf, the Richard Madeley look-a-like guided his new minions to four straight victories in his first four games in charge. Victory was seemingly in his blood and like the pleasant man he is, he wanted to share that with his new supporters. On 14/05/11, the Italian ended the club's longest ever trophy drought with a 1-0 FA Cup triumph over Stoke City. After only half a season, Mancini has indented his name into Eastland's folklore.
However, his first season ended in slight disappointment as City narrowly missed out on a Champions League spot behind Tottenham Hotspur. The 2010/2011 season would see the attractive Anconian flavour the squad with his own salt and pepper.
A staggering total of £154,750,000 was spent on eight players as Mancini looked to push his side up the Premier League table.
- Jerome Boateng - £11,000,000 (sold the following season)
- Alex Henshall - £250,000 (who is he?)
- Yaya Toure - £24,000,000 (fastly became one of the world's best midfielders)
- David Silva - £25,000,000 (City's title winning player of the season)
- Aleksandar Kolarov - £17,000,000 (Can neither defend or attack)
- Mario Balotelli - £24,500,000 (A baby in a pram)
- James Milner - £26,000,000 (the model professional)
- Edin Dzeko - £27,000,000 (Part time super sub, part time flop)
Arguably, only three out of the eight fitted the bill. Boateng left the next season following a number of below par performances, Henshall was a ghost, Kolarov introduced a 'different' style of defending to the league, Balotelli brought the name of the club into question and Edin Dzeko failed to replicate the form he had hit at Wolfsburg. Only Yaya, David 'Merlin' Silva and James Milner had any real effect on the new style of football the blues adopted.
Three out of eight was poor, and Mancini's strange tactics were questioned as his side started to surrender their push for fourth place just before Christmas. Nevertheless, 'Bobby Manc' managed to work his magic and turn the season around. City finished their 2010/2011 season in third place just behind Chelsea on goal difference. Champions League football was on the menu.
The 2011/2012 season proved that dreams really do come true. Imagine finishing on 10 points in a Champions League group populated by Bayern Munich, Napoli and Villareal! Imagine thrashing your rivals 6-1 away from home! And my God, imagine winning your first ever Premier League title in the final seconds to wipe off the slimy smiles of the rags in Sunderland! It all happened.
Although Mancini somewhat nullified spending in his second full season, he arguably sealed Manchester City Football Club's finest ever signing; Sergio Aguero. In his first season with the club, the Argentine scored 30 goals in 48 games including two on his debut, one in the 6-1 derby massacre and another in a game I'll most certainly mention later. His other signings included:
- Stefan Savic - £6,000,000 (somehow worse than Kolarov)
- Gael Clichy - £7,000,000 (bargain, speed demon, first choice left back)
- Costel Pantillimon - £3,000,000 (City's giant Cup goalkeeper)
- Samir Nasri - £22,000,000 (promised big things but flopped)
- Owen Hargreaves - free (the most pointless signing in PL history)
13th May 2012. Somehow, the citizens had recovered an eight point gap between them and 'noisy neighbours' Manchester United. A 2-0 win at St.James' Park presented them with the straight forward task of slaying the league's worst away performers at the Etihad to win their first league title in 44 years. But as the City faithful knew, nothing is ever simple in the east side of Manchester.
2-2 with two injury time minutes to go. Balotelli, AGUEROOOOOOOOOOO! And the rest was history.
So why was he sacked?
As an avid user of Twitter, I know that the fans are devastated by the news. How could the man, who in three years brought two trophies to a club that severely lacked in silverware, be 'relieved of his duties' so quickly?
Was it his relationship with the players?
Firstly, Mancini had no relationship with any of his players apart from Mario Balotelli. Working as a paper boy in 2009 for a Manchester Evening News newsagent, I was told by a source close to the club that many of the players actually 'hated' the Italian. Although the reliability of the quote is questionable given my position at the time, it doesn't take a genius to work out that Mancini definitely wasn't inviting his squad round for spaghetti and meatballs at the weekend.
According to former defender Danny Mills, 'there wasn't the togetherness between player and manager. Basically, Mancini just ignored the players from day one. He was the manager, he made decisions, he made no attempt to have any sort of relationship with the players, didn't take them under his wing. It was very much, 'I'm the manager, I'll do my thing, I'll pick the team and then I'll disappear'.
You only have to watch the Inside City features on the MCFC website to realise that this is the truth. As City players make their Christmas cards in Santa hats and fake beards, Roberto awkwardly walks in; silent. You don't see that with any other manager.
The Italian wasn't afraid of challenging his players, but his approach was disliked by many. Below, BBC Sport have compiled a list of the famous spats Mancini was involved in with his players:
- March 2013: Says he would like "to punch" Samir Nasri after a 4-0 win over Newcastle
- March 2013: Joe Hart says criticism makes him feel Mancini does not believe he is "up to it" on occasions
- March 2013: Criticises captain Vincent Kompany for playing for Belgium while injured
- January 2013: Photographed having a 'bust-up' with Mario Balotelli on the training ground. Later sells Balotelli to AC Milan
- October 2012: Defends his tactical switches after Micah Richards raised concerns about playing with three centre-backs. "What Micah said is not important"
- September 2012: Tells goalkeeper Joe Hart to stop criticising the team, insisting he is the only "judge"
- April 2012: Says he will sell Mario Balotelli after his red card against Arsenal, saying: "I don't have any words for his behaviour"
- February 2012: Carlos Tevez accuses Mancini of treating him "like a dog"
- September 2011: Says he wants Carlos Tevez "out of the club" after the striker allegedly refused to play against Bayern Munich. Tevez does not play for the club for five months
In my mind, a manager needs to leave his door open to the players at all times. A manager is not a dictator, but a mentor. Sir Alex Ferguson created a perfect limbo between manager and friend. As did Arsene Wenger. Mancini, unfortunately, did not and this is now being cited as the main reason for why he lost his job.
Was it his tactics?
The Italian's tactics have always been questioned ever since he took charge in December 2009. He has publicly stated that he likes 1-0 wins 'when you don't concede a goal' and we must give him credit for sorting out our atrocious back line.
Following City's 3-1 loss to Ajax in the Champions League last year, Micah Richards questioned his manager's decision to change a title winning four man defence into a three man defence that the players looked frighteningly uncomfortable with. 'I think the players prefer a back four' said Micah, a guy highly respected by club and fans alike. When one of the clubs most loyal servants openly questions the manager, you have to worry.
However, what happens if his attackers can't score? This has been the case this season. Many have argued that Mancini is a 'defence first' rather than a 'win first' manager, but that doesn't explain a 6-1 win over Manchester United or a 5-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur. Roberto obviously knew how to get his strikers firing, so why hasn't that happened this season?
The players have to take some blame. In City's 2011/2012 title winning season, Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli managed to net 40 Premier League goals between them. This season, Aguero, Dzeko and Tevez have only 32 goals.
Is it a question of ability? It's doubtful, but Mancini's ability to motivate his players has certainly been questionable this season.
Was it Champions League failure?
In short, no. City's first attempt at the Champions League saw them collect 10 points from a group that included Bayern Munich, Napoli and Villareal. Any other group, and the blues would have been through to the latter stages.
We thought it'd be easier this year, but in fact, Mancini and co. were handed the toughest group of the lot. Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax welcomed City into the group of death and the only group that had four league champions in it. Although the blues failed to win a single game, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund went on to battle in the semi-finals.
His Champions League record is woeful, however, looking at the teams we had to face, it can't be the reason for his dismissal.
Goodbye, Roberto
Ultimately, the owners have made the right choice. Roberto failed to establish any sort of relationship with his players and saw his 2012/2013 season end in tatters as his side faltered at the hands of Wigan in the FA Cup final.
However, the handling of the situation has somewhat made a mockery of the club in the aftermath of Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement from football. As we all know and are reminded of every day by our gobshite neighbours, Manchester United stuck with the Scot for 26 years, and look what they achieved. That's not the problem. Mancini had no bond with his players, Ferguson did.
What brings the name of the club into question is the time it took for the club to make a statement. Rumours regarding Mancini's departure circulated the internet like a vicious virus just hours before our tragic cup loss and the fans knew he was going even before he did.
The man who treated us to undoubtedly England's best ever title win and silverware we haven't seen in a lifetime deserves more respect than six days of silence. Fans must welcome our new manager as we welcomed Mancini, but he's a man we will never, ever forget.
#forzamancini
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