A grisly and unedifying 72 hours has culminated tonight in Manchester City Football Club announcing that Roberto Mancini, the club’s most successful manager in decades has been fired…
MCFC CLUB STATEMENT
‘It is with regret that Manchester City Football Club announces that Roberto Mancini has been relieved of his duties as Manchester City Manager.
This has been a difficult decision for the owner, Chairman and Board to make and it is the outcome of a planned end of season review process that has been brought forward in light of recent speculation and out of respect for Roberto and his extensive contributions to the Football Club.
Despite everyone’s best efforts, the Club has failed to achieve any of its stated targets this year, with the exception of qualification for next season`s UEFA Champions League. This, combined with an identified need to develop a holistic approach to all aspects of football at the Club, has meant that the decision has been taken to find a new manager for the 2013/14 season and beyond.
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said: “Roberto’s record speaks for itself and he has the respect and gratitude of Sheikh Mansour, myself and the Board for all of his hard work and commitment over the last three and a half years. He has clearly also secured the love and respect of our fans. He has done as he promised and delivered silverware and success, breaking the Club`s 35-year trophy drought and securing the title in 2012. I would like to personally and publicly thank him for his dedication to the progress that he has overseen and for his support and continued friendship.
Assistant Manager Brian Kidd will take interim responsibility for the remaining two games of the season and the post-season tour to the United States.’
The disastrously unhelpful story originating on FA Cup Final eve that City were in advanced talks with Malaga’s Manuel Pellegrini appears to hold water. It could well be that the City hierarchy were planning to remove Mancio after the final game of the season or the ludicrously timed money spinning USA tournament with Chelsea. That plan appears to have been hurriedly brought forward as the anti-City brigade vultures who have pursued the beleaguered now erstwhile City boss for years circled with renewed intensity.
The silence from the club has been deafening over a long 48 hours and at least Mancini will now be spared the indignity of a touchline humiliation at Reading. Mancio wears his heart on his sleeve alongside his club scarf and this could have been horrible to witness.
As Planet Blue continues to survey the wreckage of the past season and take in the past weekend’s events, whatever anybody associated with the club says, commitments to management stability and perseverance have gone out of the window, regardless of the tough Italian’s heavily scrutinised faults in fusing a superstar team into champions.
Sir Alex Ferguson of Stretford stated last season that he wished Mancini was gone. Now he has his wish as City fans must prepare to watch a new management team start from scratch, potentially with no Premier League experience. This is how it feels to be Chelsea?
Ciao Mancio and thanks for taking us to the top.
Give us your views both here and in the VMC City Chat Forum
UPCOMING FIXTURES
all times East Manchester
Tu 14 May 20h00 Reading, Madejski Stadium, PL
Su 19 May 16h00 Norwich City, The Etihad, PL
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