ROBERTO MANCINI reckons only Rome can beat Manchester in his all-time favourite places to live.
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But if his stars are crowned Champions today even the Eternal City will feel second best as the Etihad Stadium becomes the centre of the football universe for Mancini and Manchester City.
The Italian boss is on the brink of immortalising himself in City folklore today as he stands just 90 minutes from leading the Blues to their first league title win in 44 years.
And if they overcome relegationthreatened QPR. Manchester will forever hold a special place in Mancini's heart - even if it doesn't for City striker Carlos Tevez.
"I love Manchester - it's a great place to be and I am settled here" said Mancini.
"It was hard at first because my family was not with me but now they are here and it is home.
"It is a football city. What is there not to like - maybe only the weather! For me the best place I ever lived was Rome - it was fantastic. The weather, the life - everything about Rome was good. It is one of my favourite places in the world. But Manchester is a great place too."
Sven Goran Eriksson will second that - even though he'll tune in to see Mancini being crowned King of Manchester thinking: "That could have been me!" The former City and England boss has been in regular contact with Mancini since the Italian sat on the interview panel that chose Eriksson to be Sampdoria manager in 1992.
The pair have remained friends - and although Eriksson wishes he could have led City to their first league title since 1968, he is delighted that Mancini is about to put the blue half of Manchester on the global football map.
Eriksson said: "City have the best squad in the Premier League - it really is incredible and I would have loved to have worked with that squad.
"I keep in regular touch with Roberto. We talk often and he is happy at the club and in Manchester.
"These are exciting times at City and I know their fans have been waiting for this for a long time."
Despite a history of shooting themselves in the foot, Eriksson believes this is a different City - one that has the mentality for winning.
He added: "Roberto wanted to change the mentality of the club from top to bottom when he went there and he has gathered players around him who have the same vision as he does."