Finally, Roberto Mancini and his scarf have left Etihad. He delivered his valedictory speech on 14th may. It was long desired outcome for a group of dressing room, but equally true is the fact that a large section of the fans wants him in the camp. It is much like love of Roberto di Mattio at Stamford Bridge, another Italian, who gave West Londoners first touch of the elite European cup.
He arrived at Manchester City basking in the glory days of Serie A titles with Inter. The level of desire, specially after pumping of more than 1 billion petrodollars in the club by Sheikh Mansoor, was high among the fans. He fulfilled it the previous year by giving EPL to this side to Manchester after 44 years and beating rival city side 6-1.
3 trophies in 4 seasons at the top of affairs was a fair enough result but this year proved to be the worst. First call for his head rose, when Man C failed to win even a single game in Champions League at group stage. Christiano Ronaldo’s late winner started the script at Bernebau in a 3-2 win which initiated the pace of the slide. But the real insult to injury came when they finished last in that group of winners. It crashed their claim of a chair among European elites. More over, domestically, he surrendered title when good 4 games were left in the title race to their bête noire. In EPL, the loss to Southampton, Everton and City rivals were very troubling for title contenders. The only silver ware for which they were left chasing was FA cup that they have won 2 seasons before. Well, they loose it to relegation candidate Wigan in last moments. After the match, Mancini was virtually a dead man walking, fully aware that last nail in the coffin has been punched.
The real worry was his relationship with the players. He openly criticized Joe Hart, Nasri, Lescott and shut his mouth after Management’s intervention. His tiff images with Bellotelli caught press headlines world wide and finally the Italian sticker left to perform better at ACM, even for lesser wage. Tevez never looked eye to eye with him. He ruffled wings in public by questioning club’s transfer policies and asking for Van Persie in the public forum.
Since the inception of Tixki Begiristain as sporting director at Manchester City, every one started to smell change in the kitchen, from Italian Pizza to Catalan Pa amb tomaquet. Manual Pellegrini, the talisman Chilean is the serious most contenders to fill the space. Here comes the caution, to perform and deliver in the best league in the world, you have to be the best. AVB and JM, both Portuguese, know it better. Another chapter of the story goes that the retirement of 2 most famous managers of the same city is a study in contrast.