Roberto Mancini fears to be sacked before Tuesday’s clash against Reading FC according to club officials after the FC Cup defeat against Wigan.
It is rumored that the club and the board lost confidence that Mancini ist he right manager to take the club forward after the FA Cup defeat against Wigan Athletic on Saturday. Mancini has been in doubt for weeks especially after failing to meet his two pre-season targets – winning the Premier League and progressing from the Champions League group stage. There are also rumors that first-team coach Brian Kidd had been asked to take charge of City’s final two games against Reading FC and Norwich City. City is currently at Loftus Road preparing for the match against Reading FC on Tuesday, May 14th. Mancini has been at City in 2009 after leaving Lazio and Inter Milan. However,he also has another 4 years left on his £7.5 million-a-year contract and is expecting a nice payout if he gets sacked.
The most likely successor is FC Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini. There rumours that City will sign him on June 1st as the club intensified the recruitment efforts last week after FC Barcelona is chasing him as well. City’s sporting director, Txiki Begiristain, had met Pellegrini’s agent, Jesus Martínez, in Madrid two weeks ago.
Mancini has been angry with the club official and said: “I don’t know why the club hasn’t stopped this because it is not correct and I don’t think it is true. It is rubbish this speculation. I will still be here next season. It is rubbish, but I know football and know that everything can happen. But if it is true, we will know in the next two weeks. If it isn’t, this is stupid. If it is true, then I am stupid for not believing this. Maybe next Sunday, when the season is finished, we will know then.”
Roberto Mancini departure still needs to get confirmed by the club. However, it is likely that his contract will be terminated defore the post-season trip to the United States next Monday.