Man City have lost their flair - but Guardiola's team are showing the fight required to be champions

SPORT

Sergio Aguero celebrates with his team-mates scoring his side's second goal.

Total football - it was not.

Sergio Aguero’s strike that ultimately decided it was a total mess, as far as Burnley were concerned.

It’s safe to assume this is not Pep Guardiola’s vision of Manchester City.

But until the Catalan can get this team playing anything like those he produced at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, he will at least be satisfied with their ability to drag themselves over the line.

That was the case at Crystal Palace seven days earlier.

And in the Saturday lunchtime kick off at Turf Moor they needed to show their grit and resilience to overcome Burnley 2-1.

At Selhurst Park it was Toure rolling back the years with both goals in the 2-1 win.

On this occasion it was another veteran of City’s recent glories - Aguero who proved the match-winner.

Aguero nets City's first goal

In that respect Guardiola is following the well-trodden patch of his predecessors Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini.

How many times did they have to turn to that pair to pull City out of the mire?

That’s what world class players do - and as Guardiola experiences his first winter in English football he may find he has to rely on the tried and trusted with increasing regularity over the coming months.

The football that was from another planent in the opening weeks of the campaign has given way to fractious, disjointed displays in recent weeks.

Guardiola’s ever-changing cast of defenders continue to alarm.

Much of the fluid attacking football has deserted them too.

Aguero (left) celebrates with team-mate Nolito after grabbing City's second

Toure’s double against Palace came courtesy of a deflection and a defensive mix up.

Both of Aguero’s goals against Burnley were the result of calamitous defending.

His 37th minute equaliser - after Dean Marney had volleyed Burnley ahead from the edge of the box - came as a result of a goal-mouth scramble. The Argentine eventually poked home from close range when the ball squirmed through to him.

His second was positively cartoonish - Burnley squandering four or five opportunities to clear before Fernandinho’s cross was bundled over the line.

For the second week in succession it was an unconvincing display from Guardiola’s team - with Claudio Bravo having to produce two injury time saves to secure the points.The champagne football that he hopes to bring to City on a consistent basis will have to wait.

The Premier League will be won with fight, as much as flair - and Guardiola is showing he has plenty of that.

Pep Guardiola's sex rules for a good night's sleep

Nasri has scored three goals in 10 appearances for Sevilla this season

Pep Guardiola wants his Manchester City players to refrain from having sex after midnight, according to on-loan French midfielder Samir Nasri.

The 29-year-old said the City boss imposed the rule, even if the team did not have a game the next day, so players get "a good night's sleep".

Guardiola is also claimed to have said it helped Barcelona forward Lionel Messi avoid muscle injuries.

Nasri was sent on a season-long loan to Sevilla on transfer deadline day.

He told French TV programme L'Équipe du Soir that Guardiola "wants his players to be slim and fit".

Nasri added: "He banned a lot of things in the kitchen but the biggest anecdote is that he says before a day off, those who want to have (sexual) relations it's before midnight. And that's with a day off the next day. It's because he wants you to have a good night's sleep."

Nasri, who signed for City in 2011, added: "He said he told that to Messi, who since then does not get muscle injuries."

The midfielder made one appearance for City this season, before he was loaned to the La Liga club

Guardiola did not allow Nasri to train with the main group during pre-season as he had returned overweight.

"Guardiola told me that I was a mess, he told me several times and even kicked me in the butt, literally," added Nasri.

Lionel Messi opens the door for Manchester City after refusing Barcelona talks

According to Marca, Lionel Messi has told Barcelona that he doesn’t want to extend his Barcelona contract at the moment.

According to Spanish publication Marca, Lionel Messi told Barcelona back in July that he didn’t want to sign a contract extension with Barcelona as he wants to keep his options open.

This means that Manchester City may well be on red alert if Messi doesn’t choose to renew his contract as the man commonly known as the world’s best player would be available on a free transfer.

Marca report that “Manchester City are the club that has a greater chance of acquiring his services” due to the appeal of Pep Guardiola on the bench and the project that is unfolding at the Etihad.

As well as the ongoing project at Manchester City, Lionel Messi may be keen to move elsewhere due to the ongoing tax investigation in Spain, during which he was sentenced to 21 months in prison, although he won’t serve that time.

However, it’s important to note that Marca is a Madrid based publication and the story could merely be created to cause discontent within Barcelona.

Man City's Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne earn Ballon d'Or nominations

Sergio Aguero is in the running to win the prestigious Ballon d'Or award.

The Manchester City striker was the first of five names announced by France Football on Monday morning as part of a 30-man shortlist that will be revealed through the course of the day.

Joining him in contention are Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and Real Madrid pair Cristiano Ronalo and Gareth Bale.

Kevin De Bruyne was part of the second batch of names that featured fellow attackers Paulo Dybala, Antoine Griezmann, and Gonzalo Higuain and also Diego Godin.

Aguero is feeling the heat at City as he attempts to understand and carry out what Pep Guardiola wants from him, and failure to net against Southampton made it three league games without a goal for the first time since December 2015.

Yet that statistic also reveals how consistent he has been this year, and his performances have been recognised.

Having merged in 2010, the Ballon d'Or has now parted ways with the Fifa World Player of the Year prize, meaning there will be two separate awards.

Man City 'monitor' Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez as Guardiola considers £50m move

Sanchez is in a contract 'stand off' with Arsenal

The Arsenal forward is said to be in a contract stand-off at the Emirates, which has put Manchester City and Juventus on alert.

The Mirror claim it could spark a £50m battle between Guardiola and Italian champions Juve.City’s manager worked with Sanchez during his time at Barcelona and has remained an admirer.The Chilean’s reputation has grown further since moving to Arsenal and he has been outstanding this season.He will move into the final year of his contract in the summer, with Wenger determined to tie him down to a long-term deal.But Arsenal will not risk losing the 27-year-old for nothing - which is why interested parties will keep a close eye on the negotiations.Guardiola has been critical of City’s failure to kill off opponents this season and has repeatedly demanded more from leading scorer Sergio Aguero.Brazilian international Gabriel Jesus will arrive in January following his summer move from Palmeiras - but Guardiola plans to further overhaul the squad he inherited from Manuel Pellegrini.

How Guardiola beat Mourinho to the 'new Neymar' and Man City got one over Manchester United

Jesus has been dubbed the new Neymaer in Brazil

A delegation of representatives for Gabriel Jesus is due to fly in next month ahead of the 19-year-old’s move to Manchester City.

Among those expected is Giovanni Branchini - the Italian super agent, who has helped guide the careers of some of the game’s finest players, including Cristiano Ronaldo and his Brazilian namesake.

As Europe’s leading clubs targeted the teenage striker, Branchini was mandated to help broker a deal.And despite the interest of Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona, Jesus was convinced to further his career under the guidance of Pep Guardiola at the Etihad.It is believed that a bigger personal package was on offer from Old Trafford - but the brightest prospect in Brazil was advised to make City his next move as Guardiola embarks on overhauling the squad he inherited from Manuel Pellegrini.

Guardiola has high hopes for Jesus when he arrives in January

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach is eager to manage expectations of a player, who is leaving his homeland for the first time - and will arrive in Manchester along with his mother.

But age and experience aside, City have recruited Brazil’s new No9 - and the weight of history that brings with it.

One of the heroes of his country’s gold medal in Rio, Jesus has been described as the ‘new Neymar’.

Guardiola, himself, is convinced City have signed ‘goals’ - comparing his instinct for finishing to that of Sergio Aguero.

And the anticipation is that Jesus will provide competition for Aguero up front, at a time when the Argentine’s future continues to be the source of intense scrutiny.City’s leading scorer has agreed a one-year extension to his contract - but his status as an ‘untouchable’ has been broken by Guardiola.

The Catalan’s great frustration in his opening months in charge at the Etihad has been what he perceives to be a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal.

Aguero has scored 14 goals in 15 games - but has also missed three penalties.

His failure to convert a gilt-edged chance against Middlesbrough last weekend came back to haunt City as the Premier League newcomers struck late on to earn a draw.

In short, Jesus heads to Manchester with every opportunity to become a pivotal figure for Guardiola in the second half of the campaign.That is likely to have been in the mind of Branchini as the starlet’s future was being mapped out.

What hope of forcing his way into Barca’s star-studded MSN frontline of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar?

Branchini has a rich history of representing some of the biggest names, so it is no surprise his counsel was sought for Jesus.

The feeling at City is that they’ve landed a future superstar.

In establishing himself as Brazil’s No9 in his first two months as a senior international, he is probably ahead of schedule.

But it points to the potential of a player who could have had his pick of Europe’s biggest clubs
.

Sergio Aguero: Manchester City striker out for up to eight weeks

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero could be out of action for up to eight weeks, says manager Manuel Pellegrini.

The Argentine, City's leading scorer this season with 19 goals, injured his calf during Saturday's 6-3 victory over Premier League leaders Arsenal.

It was originally thought he would be out for a month but Pellegrini revealed the latest prognosis after the 3-1 Capital One Cup win over Leicester.

"The doctor has said he has at least one month or eight weeks," he said.

Aguero, who has scored 13 times in the league, netted the opener against the Gunners before limping off at the start of the second half.

"I don't know how many weeks but it will be at least one month," added Pellegrini. "It is very difficult to know at this moment how many weeks it can be."

If Aguero is unable to recover for eight weeks he stands to miss crucial matches against Chelsea in the Premier League, and Barcelona in the Champions League.

City are also waiting for news of defender Pablo Zabaleta, who limped off after just 12 minutes at the King Power Stadium with a hamstring injury, a week after fellow defender Micah Richards suffered the same problem during the 3-2 win over Bayern Munich.

"It's a pity for Pablo because he felt a little problem in his hamstring and we'll see tomorrow how damaging it is," said Pellegrini.

Micah Richards makes point to Manchester City and England in central in victory over Sunderland

The petulance of Mario Balotelli, storming directly down the tunnel to the Manchester City dressing room after being substituted in the second half, again dominated the soap opera headlines that attend the Premier League champions’ every move but, at the other end of the field, there was a far more significant development for both club and country.

Micah Richards, playing for City for the first time in five months in the centre-half position many feel is his best, turned in the sort of performance that suggested he is an obvious replacement for shamed and recently-retired England defender John Terry.

Persistent question marks remain over Richards’ ability at the very highest level – as the fact he possesses just 13 caps from a near six-year international career testifies – but, at the age of barely 24, he is surely worthy of strong consideration, even allowing for his strange decision to remove his name from the stand-by list for last summer’s European Championship squad.

“I think Micah is a fantastic player and he deserves to be in the national team,” said team mate Pablo Zabaleta. “Micah came back to the team, he was very solid at the back. He is young, he is strong and he can give to England what he gives to Manchester City. He can play either centre back or right back.

“Terry’s not in the international team any more so maybe that is a good chance for him to get into the England team again.”

Richards’ average of a couple of caps per year is all the more mysterious given his versatility and, perhaps, the athletic youngster has been a victim of his own success, considered good at both defensive positions but great at neither by a succession of England managers.

“He can play both positions, centre-back and right-back,” continued Zabaleta. “He’s played before in this position and looking at this season, we probably we have Macion, me and Micah (at right-back) so it’s good too see Micah as a centre-back.

“He’s a very good player, he can play in both positions so for the team its good when you’ve got players who can play in different positions – Micah had a fantastic game today.”

Richards himself declines to discuss his standing with Hodgson and the national squad although, having formed an impenetrable pairing with Joleon Lescott in front of England goalkeeper Joe Hart on Saturday, it is tempting to imagine he can envisage a return to the international fold.

“I was excited to be back out there after being out for so long, me and Joleon haven’t played together too many times,” said Richards. “A lot of people don’t realise how good he is. He’s played for England and he’s a top class centre back. He showed that last season.

“People always say the foreigners make City’s team but we have a good six or seven English lads in the squad. When we come in and get our chance we give 100% and they did that today.”

Richards’ return coincided with City’s first clean sheet of the season – although perhaps it was no coincidence – although the England man was arguably not even the best defender on display. Full-back Aleksandar Kolarov was a force in defence and scored a magnificent fourth-minute direct free-kick before laying on a second goal for Sergio Aguero, whose 55th minute introduction had so infuriated Balotelli.

The Italian forward is clearly becoming an irritant to manager Roberto Mancini and coach David Platt who refused to answer questions properly when quizzed over Balotelli’s show of disrespect as he left the field.

As City proved with last season’s Carlos Tevez debacle, of course, such distractions matter little to the club, given their colossal financial resources and a squad whose depth is unmatched in the Premier League and James Milner’s late direct free-kick completed the rout and their 33rd unbeaten home league game.

Far more worrying have been City’s defensive performances to date and, for this reason, their display in overwhelming a poor Sunderland team that had somehow remained unbeaten until this point, could prove to be significant.

“You always know that when you play against Manchester City you are going to be busy,” said goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, one of the few Black Cats to emerge with credit. “In games like this you want to keep it goalless as long as you can, but by conceding early it meant a tough game got even tougher. After going ahead early City pressed us really high up the pitch and created lots of chances.”

Many more teams look poised to experience the same problem in the weeks to come.

Roberto Mancini's son Andrea joins Spanish third division side Valladolid B

A lot to live up to: Roberto Mancini's son Andrea was released bu Manchester City and now joins Spanish third division side Valladolid 

The 19 year-old was released by the English champions at the end of last season after loan spells at Oldham and Italian side Fano, and has signed a one-year deal with the reserve side of the newly-promoted Primera Division club.

That does mean, though, that Mancini is eligible to play in La Liga should he be called upon, and he is desperate to get his chance to play in the Spanish top flight.

He said: ''It is something very important for me. Valladolid is a good team in the Spanish league and I am going to have to work hard.

''I have to win my chance in the youth team to play in the Primera with Valladolid, but if I work hard I don't see any reason why it can't happen.

''My great-grandmother, who died when I was a child, always told me she was from Valladolid, although I personally don't know the city.

Mancini fighting to keep duo

Man City manager does not want to lose Tevez or Dzeko

Edin Dzeko: Linked with a move away from Man City but Roberto Mancini hopes he will stay

Sky Bet

• Roberto Mancini has admitted it will not be easy to keep hold of Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko, but he hopes the duo will stay at Manchester City.

Tevez's future has been the subject of intense speculation since last summer and he has again been linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium during the transfer window, although last week he stated that he is feeling settled at City.

Fellow striker Dzeko has also reportedly attracted the attention of clubs such as Juventus and Bayern Munich, but Mancini has made it clear that he has no intention of letting either player leave.

Mancini's focus is on strengthening his squad rather than weakening it, as he accepts that City need to improve to compete with Europe's finest.

"Both Dzeko and Tevez will stay at City. We are a great team and we try to keep all our great players," said the Italian.

"It won't be easy, but they will stay here.

"We still lack a couple of players to reach (the level of) Real Madrid and Barcelona. Our mentality has to grow season by season.
"

Blues pre-season: Manchester City 0 Al Hilal 1

Manchester City's pre-season campaign began with a surprise defeat to Al Hilal in Austria on Friday night. It was their first game since dramatically clinching the Premier League title on the final day of the season. And despite starting with a team which included a number of first-team regulars, Alabid Nawaf Shaker’s goal midway through the second half was enough to hand the Saudi side victory. Roberto Mancini named Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and Carlos Tevez in his team for City’s first pre-season friendly, exactly two months after they had started against QPR at the Etihad Stadium on the final day of the season. Aleksandar Kolarov and Adam Johnson – who had been suffering from a virus – were also named in the starting XI but City never got into any kind of rhythm in a first-half that had all the intensity and tempo you would expect of a pre-season friendly. Mancini, who used 24 players in total during the game, made 10 substitutions at the break introducing Dedryck Boyata, Kolo Toure and Stefan Savic, as well as youngsters Harry Bunn, Jeremy Helan and Croatian trialist Mario Jelavic. But while they were looking to make an impression on Mancini, it was Shaker who made his mark on the scoreline, jinking past Boyata and shooting past substitute goalkeeper Eirik Johansen in the 68th minute. City play Dynamo Dresden in Innsbruck on Tuesday before facing Besiktas on Friday.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini signs new five-year contract to scotch speculation over Russia job

Roberto Mancini has agreed a new five-year contract as manager of Manchester City as the club looks to progress into a European force.

Job well done: Roberto Mancini has signed a new five-year contract with Manchester City 

Although there were claims Mancini was wanted by the Russian Football Federation to take charge of their national side, the Italian was always expected to commit long-term to the City project having secured their first league title in 44 years in May.

A contract of around £35 million was rumoured to be on offer if he took the Russia job and while the terms of his new deal at City have not been released, he has been rewarded with an improved financial package.

“I am delighted to be able to give all of my efforts to Manchester City

for a further five years,” said Mancini. “The opportunity which exists to build on our recent success is enormous.

"Manchester City is a fantastic football club, from the owner, chairman, board and the executive team, through to the players, staff and fans. I am very much looking forward to the challenges and excitement ahead."

The former Inter Milan manager took over at City from Mark Hughes in December 2009 and ended a 35-year trophy drought in his first full season by winning the FA Cup and also secured Champions League football with a third-place finish in the Premier League.

The club’s interim chief executive officer, John MacBeath, added: “Roberto’s managerial credentials have been well proven in Europe for many years and in leading a team which has won the FA Cup and an unforgettable Premier League title in successive seasons, his ability to manage in the English domestic game is also undisputed.

"This new agreement allows Roberto to focus on the challenge of guiding a team which is capable not only of defending the Premier League title, but one which can compete for European honours."

Manchester City left-back Wayne Bridge set to complete surprise move to Brighton today

Wayne Bridge is poised to complete his surprise move from Manchester City to Brighton later today.

Heading south: Wayne Bridge will swap Premier League champions Manchester City's bench for a first team spot with Championship 

The former England and Chelsea defender has agreed to join Gus Poyet's Championship team in a loan deal that will run until the end of the season.

Bridge, 31, was a £10 million signing by Mark Hughes in January 2009 and once regarded as a genuine threat to Ashley Cole as England's first choice left-back.

But he fell out of favour at Manchester City spectacularly when Roberto Mancini replaced Hughes and has been loaned out to West Ham and Sunderland in the last two seasons.

Now Poyet, the Brighton manager, is set to complete an audacious swoop by taking Bridge to the Amex Stadium.

City are believed to have agreed paying a substantial amount of his £100,000 a week wages to push the deal through.

The qualities of England's No1 goalkeeper Joe Hart

AGILITY

The most fundamental quality of any goalkeeper is their athleticism and shot-stopping ability. When the manager of your biggest rivals, Sir Alex Ferguson, starts waxing lyrical about you, unprompted, during interviews with DJ Spoony you know you’ve got something about you.

“If you look at the England goalkeeper situation for the last 20 years, I would think he’s easily the best,” said Ferguson. “I could have bought Joe Hart for £100,000. We all make mistakes.”

CONCENTRATION LEVELS

Goalkeeping for a successful team is a more specialist occupation, demanding high concentration levels during prolonged periods of inactivity. Often, keepers at struggling clubs shine most because they have so much to do so get more chance to look better than they are.

Hart was exceptional last season because he made crucial saves that proved the difference in City winning the title.

“This season is why they’re talking about Joe as the world’s best,” his team mate Gareth Barry said after a crucial last-minute save in a 1-0 win at Aston Villa. “Every game he’s making one or two great saves; he’s going to be England’s No1 for a long time.”

PRESENCE

There are those goalkeepers whose mere presence can intimidate strikers into fluffing their lines in front of goal. Manchester United Peter Schmeichel’s stature was such he seemed to cover the entire goal area when faced with a one-on-one situation. The similarities with Hart have been noted by his Old Trafford rivals. The City admits relying on his reflexes, relishing personal duels with attacks.

“Hart makes good reaction saves and great blocks,” said former United keeper Edwin van der Saar. “That’s a little bit the Peter Schmeichel way and that’s one of his strong points.”

MATURITY

Despite only being 25, Hart is mature enough to have warranted demands for him to be named England captain. He has displayed his leadership qualities on several occasions during Manchester City’s title surge.

While his manager wrote off City’s title chances at one stage, Hart issued the rallying cries. “There is no point in us turning up for games if the title race is over,” he said when City trailed by eight points. “We’ve still got to believe, we’ve still got to fight for every single point available.”

Man City boss Roberto Mancini reacts to Sir Alex Ferguson jibe

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini hit back at Sir Alex Ferguson after the Scot accused him of trying to influence officials during Manchester United's 1-0 derby defeat at Etihad Stadium.

The pair clashed and were kept apart by City coach David Platt and fourth official Mike Jones late on in the win that put Mancini's side back on top of the Premier League on goal difference with two games left.

Title run-inSunde

Ferguson reacted angrily to City substitute Nigel de Jong's challenge on Danny Welbeck - but found an equally robust response from Mancini, who met his counterpart head on and gestured in his direction.

United boss Ferguson said: "He [Mancini] refereed the game right the way through. He was haranguing the officials. He can't complain about referees any more."

Mancini cool? 

Mancini delivered a heavily sarcastic response as he said: "And him? He doesn't talk with the referees or fourth officials - never. I spoke with the fourth official and then Ferguson told me some kind words. I don't know why.

"I answered him but I can understand because at this moment the passion was high."

City captain Vincent Kompany was delighted to score the winner but insisted that the title has not been decided yet.

The Belgium international defender said: "We are absolutely buzzing. We've been waiting for this moment. But it is far from over.

"To give our fans two wins over Manchester United is great but now we need to finish it off.

"I remember someone texting me and saying I would score the winning goal and I thought he was a lunatic."

Manchester City tell Roberto Mancini he must change before they offer him a new deal

Manchester City are expected to offer Roberto Mancini a new contract at the end of the season but they are seeking assurances from him that he has taken on some of the club’s concern about his management style.

Left field: Manchester City hierarchy have questioned manager Roberto Mancini's management style 

The Italian’s current deal has a year to run and the City hierarchy are expected to review the situation at their quarterly board meeting at the end of the campaign.

The club are happy that the first team have shown clear signs of progress and want to give him a new deal irrespective of whether they win the title but they feel there is a need for the manager to refine his abrasive man management approach, to be more discreet about any issues he has with the club and to work with the club on ensuring transfer policy falls into line with the demands of Financial Fair Play.

There has been speculation that City would look to a new manager such as Jose Mourinho this summer but there is no appetite in the hierarchy to create an unstable situation at the club at a time when progress is clearly being made.

Mancini, whose side are two points behind Manchester United in the title race with four games to go, has given every indication that he is prepared to sign a new deal.

“I am confident that I will continue to do this job next year,” he said. “I don’t think we have any problems because I think we have done a good job.”

Manchester City fans start campaign for Roberto Mancini

Manchester City supporters have started a campaign to show their support for manager Roberto Mancini.

The fans have set up a "Respect Roberto Mancini" petition and organised a campaign on Twitter urging the club to retain him as manager even if City fail to win the Premier League title.

Mancini has seen his side's challenge falter and they are now five points behind leaders Manchester United.

There has been speculation linking Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho with his job. Mchester City's 6-1 victory over arch-rivals Manchester United in October put them five points clear at the top of the league and they remained there until March, when a run of just one win in five matches saw their title hopes fade.

Mancini's City record

• Games played: 137
• Won: 81
• Lost: 30
• Drawn: 26

Mancini, who has one year remaining on his contract, has endured a difficult year after high-profile arguments with strikers Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli.

However, despite increasing speculation about Mancini's future, a group of Manchester City fans believe the Italian, who ended the club's 35-year wait for a trophy with last year's FA Cup triumph, is still the right man for the job.

"I'd be devastated if he left and a lot of City fans would be," said mcfcforum.com part-owner Andy Savage, whose website has helped with the campaign.

"At the moment he's not committing his future, so the campaign is to show our support. We'd love him to stay and the majority of fans want him to stay. He knows the fabric of the club and gets on really well with the fans."

The petition to keep the 47-year-old former Inter Milan boss has so far had more than 1,000 signatures.

"The campaign is to show support for what he's done as he has not been getting enough respect. We'd like him to at least see out the remainder of his contract, but ideally get a new one," added Savage.

However, Savage insists the fans' campaign is about showing their support, rather than criticising owner Sheikh Mansour, who brought in Mancini after sacking Mark Hughes in December 2009.

"It is not about criticising the owners or putting pressure on them," he said.

"Over the past few months, journalists have been having a go at Mancini and put pressure on him by saying his job is not safe. But the last thing we need is to be chopping and changing our manager.

"I can't see the owners doing it to be honest. They've brought him in, he's their man and I genuinely feel they've got a great relationship."