When Roberto Mancini came into the role at City in December 2009, he was arguably the most most sought after media target in decades. Whilst the press and media alike were waiting like a cobra to strike, Manchester City's fine and well respected fans were fully behind the new man at the helm. From his opening game against Stoke on Boxing Day 2009 he implemented his own style of football and gave players a chance that had not been seen under the Mark Hughes reign since the summer. Players such as Vincent Kompany were given a new role at central defence alongside Kolo Toure, whilst Martin Petrov was given a chance to make a claim for a new contract at the end of the season.
Within a month of joining City, Mancini was faced with two Manchester derby's. The Carling Cup semi final was a fantastic chance for City to reach their first final since the 1981 cup defeat against Tottenham Hotspur. Two goals from Carlos Tevez won the first leg for City at the Etihad however a late Wayne Rooney header cost City the tie at Old Trafford and a place at Wembley against Aston Villa.
Despair and heatbreak came that May as City failed to make the Champions League group stages after a 1-0 home defeat to Tottenham where Peter Crouch's goal booked Spurs a place at European Football's finest table in place of Mancini's City. A disappointing end to a mixed season however, the form of Carlos Tevez produced since Mancini's appointment just before Christmas of that year was a massive delighted to blues fans.
Mancini's first major transfer window in charge of City seen him bring in the likes of Yaya Toure, David Silva, and also seen the return of Joe Hart to City following his loan spell at Birmingham the season previous. City started the season with much optimism that the club could finally land Champions League football to the club in more than forty years. After a disappointing first two or three months at City, the club and squad finally starting to gel, started producing the performances required for the club to cement a Champions League spot.
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| Mancini capturing City's first trophy in 35 years |
In the start of May of that season City faced two of the biggest games in the the Abu Dubai's reign. A victory against Tottenham on the Wednesday night would cement a champions league spot for the club and this was achieved successfully after a Peter Crouch own goal was the difference between the two sides. The Saturday that followed ended all blue's pain of a trophyless drought where a single Yaya Toure strike had given the club it's first trophy in thirty five years.
The summer of 2011 was an incredible summer for all involved with the club. Marquee signing's such as Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero were brought in to reinforce City's attacking options. Gael Clichy was also recruited from Arsenal for a bargain £7,000,000. Despite losing a two goal led in the curtain raiser of the charity shield to Manchester United, City recovered from their minor set back to create a record breaking start to a Premier League side by one team.
With only two draws in and one defeat all season prior to Christmas it was clear that Mancini had created a genuine title contention squad. In the record breaking start that City created also included a thumping and ultimately embarrassing home defeat for Manchester United where Mancini took his side across the City to Salford and set a club record derby win of 1-6 victory for Mancini's men.
A poor champions league run culminating in a group stage exit from their group meant City were forced into the Europa League after Christmas. Also dominating the Champions League headlines was the very public fall out with Carlos Tevez after the former United man refused to come off the bench in Munich causing Mancini to announce that he would never play for the club again, yet six months later returned to the team in a crucial game at home to Chelsea.
After the turn of the year things soon came back down to reality where his side couldn't manage to hit the form they previously showed prior to Christmas. Unnecessary defeats away at Everton, Swansea and Sunderland caused an eight point gap between City and United at the top following another defeat away to Arsenal with only six games to go.
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| City's first league title in a generation |
With United dropping five points from three games, they left the door open for City to punish United for leaving the door slightly open. Mancini took his side into the biggest Manchester Derby ever and the most watched club football match. A Vincent Kompany header put City back on top of the league with only two games remaining. City went on to capture the league title with a dramatic win over Queens Park Rangers at the end of the season and end a forty four year drought without a League title.
This season far from lived up to expectations of the previous season. Despite a charity shield win over Chelsea, another disappointing Champions League run ended in the Mancini being the first manager of an English club not to win a Champions League group game. Rumours of fall outs and bust ups with key players starting speculation that the Italian was facing the chop at City. Public falling outs with Mario Balotelli also can be looked at a downfall of the Italian
The club was a staggering twelve points behind leaders Manchester United by February and the fans were starting to question Mancini's methods and tactics as to why it had gone so horrifically wrong. Another Derby day victory at Old Trafford for the second consecutive season in the league and City's victory over Chelsea set up the club's second F.A Cup final in three seasons. On the eve of the final speculation mounted that Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini is being lined up to take over from Mancini at the end of the season.
On May 13th 2013, a year to the day since his finest hour. Roberto Mancini was sacked by Manchester City. Thank you for the memories Roberto. We as fans wish you undoubted success in your future career.
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