MANCHESTER CITY's owners do not plan to replace manager Roberto Mancini with Jose Mourinho even if the Italian fails to lift a trophy this season with the most expensively assembled squad the Premier League has seen. Mancini's team were knocked out of the Europa League in midweek leaving the pursuit of Manchester United for the English title this season's sole chance of silverware.
According to a senior source at City, Mancini's future is so secure it has “not even been discussed”. The club considers him one of the world's top five managers and see no value in ending a relationship they believe will deliver major titles in future campaigns. Though Mourinho, manager at Real Madrid, is open to offers from Premier League clubs having taken the decision to leave the Bernabeu this summer, City have concerns over the 'legacy' he would offer the club and the cost of employing a coach who earns over £8.3m (€10m) net in Spain.
After making a record start to their Premier League campaign, City could face a resurgent Chelsea on Wednesday night four points adrift of United. City were knocked out of the FA Cup by their Manchester neighbours, beaten in the League Cup by Liverpool, failed to make it past the group stages of the Champions League or to the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
There has also been a degree to resistance to Mancini's methods amongst City's squad. Some players complain he remains a distant figure, his training sessions are not enjoyable, and that the team's tactics do not properly exploit the talent available. An aspect of Patrick Vieira's role as football development executive has been to provide a bridge between squad and manager.
While Abu Dhabi United Group Investment, city's owners, have been impressed by Mancini's readiness to accept blame for recent failures, their long-term commitment to the manager will be tested by a willingness to renew a contract that expires next year. To date there have been no formal talks about an extension.