Mancini turns on City over reports

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini lashed out at the club over the uncertainty surrounding his future after his team crashed to a sensational 1-0 defeat by Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup final.

City's loss means the club will end the season without a significant trophy for the first time in three years and is likely to intensify speculation about Mancini's job security in the British press.

Spanish media reports claim Mancini could be replaced by Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini in the close season, and the Italian angrily rebuked his employers for not publicly addressing the rumors.

Speaking to the media after Saturday's game at a rain-soaked Wembley Stadium, he said: "You continue to talk about this for six months and also in the last two weeks, too much.

"I don't know why the club didn't stop this, because I didn't think it was correct. I don't think that it's true."

Asked if he had demanded reassurances from the club over his position, he replied: "No, I didn't need to ask this to the club, because there isn't any reason for me."

The loss to Wigan completes a miserable season for City, which limped out of the Champions League in the group phase and whose Premier League title defense was torn to shreds by Manchester United.

Not for the first time, Mancini laid the blame at the door of the City owners for failing to back him in the transfer market, but he insisted that the club should not be disappointed with their season.

"I think our mistake started in the last (transfer) market, because we didn't put enough into our team," he said. "After you win a Premier League, after many years (of waiting), the second year is more difficult. The risk is you don't get into the Champions League, maybe do a bad season.

"Instead we had some problems, because we lost players at key moments, but after all the problems, we did a good season. And if you're in a final and you don't play well, you can lose."

He added: "I don't think last year, when Man U lost the Premier League and didn't play the FA Cup final, they did all this chaos that we did, or you (the press) did."

(China Daily 05/13/2013 page24)