Saudi-European Parliamentary Friendship Committee discusses cooperation during Strasbourg visit    Diriyah to host third IMFC Deputies meeting under Saudi chairmanship    15,135 decisions taken to penalize Saudis and expats for violations    Saudi stock market loses half a trillion riyals, with Aramco's losses amounting to SR340 billion Tariff turmoil rattles Gulf markets    KAU to host Digital Communication Conference in Jeddah from April 29 to May 1    TGA: Riyadh tops with 45% of 290 million orders delivered in 2024    Aja and Salma mountains draw nature lovers to Hail's rugged landscapes    US revokes all visas for South Sudanese nationals over deportation dispute    Death toll from Myanmar earthquake rises to 3,471    Macron to hold Gaza summit with Egypt and Jordan in Cairo    Benzema rescues Al Ittihad with stoppage-time equalizer in thrilling Jeddah Derby    Al Qadsiah and Al Ettifaq share spoils in tense Eastern Derby stalemate    Moussa Diaby praises Al Ittihad's resilience after Jeddah Derby draw "When you can't win, you take a point"    Saudi assistant referee Iman Al Madani joins AFC elite list for 2025    Riyadh Art Week launches with over 50 galleries showcasing global artistic dialogue    Turki Al-Sheikh announces five new Saudi film projects to be produced in Riyadh    Saudi Ministry of Education to showcase innovations at 2025 Geneva International Exhibition    Ed Sheeran weaves Persian music into new song, Azizam    Al-Jadaan: Crown Prince's directives confirm government's ability to bring back balance to real estate market    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Mancini pays price for Man City's stagnation
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 15 - 05 - 2013

MANCHESTER — After ending Manchester City's long wait for silverware and tipping English football's balance of power to the blue half of the city, Roberto Mancini established the perfect platform to dominate the Premier League — and perhaps Europe — for years to come.
The Italian had wealth beyond his rivals to draw on and a collection of the best players in the world at his disposal.
How did it all go so wrong in the space of 12 months?
Poor dealings in the transfer market, the appointment of new personnel in the club's technical staff and an apparent lack of motivation among players are the underlying factors in City's undoubted regression this season, ultimately costing Mancini his job.
From a position of strength, City is now back behind Manchester United and likely to face fresh challenges next season from a Chelsea team set to be revitalized with the hiring of Jose Mourinho, as well as from a Liverpool team widely expected to continue its improvement under Brendan Rodgers. Lucrative new commercial deals signed this season could see Arsene Wenger finally spend some money at Arsenal, too.
It's been one step forward and two steps back for City. A golden opportunity could have been lost and it may be hard to recover.
All signs are pointing to City appointing Manuel Pellegrini as its new manager. The Chilean is highly respected in Spain after his impressive body of work at Real Madrid, Villarreal and Malaga but he will be new to the demands of the Premier League. It remains to be seen how long it takes for him to settle in England and how he copes with the egos of City's dressing-room millionaires.
The fact that City has been in talks with Pellegrini is an indication of the work behind the scenes undertaken by executives Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain.
The former Barcelona officials both joined in October last year — Soriano as chief executive and Begiristain as director of football — and were entrusted with developing City's long-term strategy, with emphasis on producing young talent to fit in with the demands of financial fair play and an ability to attract the cream of the established players. Begiristain, for example, is widely reported to have been a key figure behind Yaya Toure agreeing a new deal with City through 2017.
The Spaniards' arrival at Etihad Stadium immediately left Mancini in a vulnerable position. Throw in City's slump in fortunes and ultimately its failure to land a major trophy and Mancini was always unlikely to last.
Mourinho is another possible candidate that City could hire this summer — his likely move to Chelsea is yet to be finalized — although it is improbable that two men with previous ties to Barca would turn to the current coach of Real Madrid to take the club forward.
Whoever does take over from Mancini must improve City's goal threat, which has plummeted this season compared to last and is only the sixth best in the Premier League this season, and improve the team's performances in the Champions League, which have been woeful under Mancini. — AP


Clic here to read the story from its source.