Max_Headroom
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- 10 Oct 2011
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Roberto Mancini accepts that his job at Manchester City may not be guaranteed in the long-term but that has not stopped him from plans to strengthen the squad.
Mancini plans a £37 million double raid on Lille for striker Eden Hazard and left-back Lucas Digne, according to The Sun.
The Italian is desperate to avoid a repeat of the last three months that have shown his expensive assembled squad found wanting after losing key midfielders and defenders to international duty and injury.
His position at the Etihad Stadium has become the subject of intense speculation after his side stuttered in the Barclays Premier League title race over the past month in particular.
Although his job is currently safe, it could change if City continue to implode during the last seven games starting with Sunday’s clash at Arsenal.
City, having led the table for most of the season, now trail rivals Manchester United by five points with seven games remaining.
Mancini, who succeeded Mark Hughes in December 2009, said: "I started my job two-and-a-half years ago and from that moment I think we have improved a lot as a team, as players, as a club."
If Mancini does stay, he wants to ensure the same difficulties do not re-occur in 12 months time.
He said: “We lost Yaya and Kolo Toure for the African Nations Cup, had some injuries and lost Vincent Kompany, Joleon Lescott and Sergio Aguero in the last two games. Maybe next year if we lose two important players, we can have another two good players and we can change.
“We finished our job to build a strong team. Now it’s enough to put in three or four more players with a strong mentality.”
Belgian superstar Hazard is high on City’s wishlist after Mancini made a personal check on the £30m-rated winger.
Mancini also wants Digne, 18, a French youth international who recently broke into the first team.
But the Italian reckons these last few weeks have shown United have the squad to go the distance.
He said: “The difference is in 20 players, not the 11, and because they are used to staying on top, they play without problems.”
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/560842631?-1808" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/560842631?-1808</a>
Mancini plans a £37 million double raid on Lille for striker Eden Hazard and left-back Lucas Digne, according to The Sun.
The Italian is desperate to avoid a repeat of the last three months that have shown his expensive assembled squad found wanting after losing key midfielders and defenders to international duty and injury.
His position at the Etihad Stadium has become the subject of intense speculation after his side stuttered in the Barclays Premier League title race over the past month in particular.
Although his job is currently safe, it could change if City continue to implode during the last seven games starting with Sunday’s clash at Arsenal.
City, having led the table for most of the season, now trail rivals Manchester United by five points with seven games remaining.
Mancini, who succeeded Mark Hughes in December 2009, said: "I started my job two-and-a-half years ago and from that moment I think we have improved a lot as a team, as players, as a club."
If Mancini does stay, he wants to ensure the same difficulties do not re-occur in 12 months time.
He said: “We lost Yaya and Kolo Toure for the African Nations Cup, had some injuries and lost Vincent Kompany, Joleon Lescott and Sergio Aguero in the last two games. Maybe next year if we lose two important players, we can have another two good players and we can change.
“We finished our job to build a strong team. Now it’s enough to put in three or four more players with a strong mentality.”
Belgian superstar Hazard is high on City’s wishlist after Mancini made a personal check on the £30m-rated winger.
Mancini also wants Digne, 18, a French youth international who recently broke into the first team.
But the Italian reckons these last few weeks have shown United have the squad to go the distance.
He said: “The difference is in 20 players, not the 11, and because they are used to staying on top, they play without problems.”
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/560842631?-1808" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/560842631?-1808</a>