TEMPLATE ANALYSIS

Manchester City’s owners are not happy with Mancini – that bit is obvious, and the flamboyant Italian’s comments following the calamitous FA Cup final defeat to Wigan have not helped his case either.

City have not fired this season, they have not fired in Europe, either in the Champion’s League or in the Europa Cup.  And they have appeared so sleepy throughout the Premier League season that it is fair to say that they simply surrendered their title to the outgoing United boss.

City are a good side – and as they showed against Real Madrid as good as any club in Europe and yet this season they have simply not turned up.

That’s down to the manager who as coach has to motivate his side.

So, all the speculation about Malaga’s Manuel Pellegrin replacing the dapper Mancini may be little more than mind games from the Arab owners -a warning that next season can not be a repeat of this.