JOB WELL DONE: Roberto ManciniThe City boss has asked the club’s player acquisition group to act fast in bringing in targets such as Udinese’s Chile winger Alexis Sanchez.
Mancini wants to have everyone on board when the Blues gather again in early July for pre-season – and that includes Jerome Boateng, who has been targeted by Bayern Munich.
Mancini was reluctant to discuss targets but said: “There are many players that want to play for City. We have time – 40 days to buy players who can help us to improve.
“We are not close but we are not too far from some of them, but all the clubs want the good players.
“This year we can work in pre-season with our players – last year we didn’t. This is important – to work for a month with the players is vital for the team.
“That is how you build a team. And we will have other players who have just played in the Champions League.”
But Mancini says even he was shocked by the storming finish to the season, Sunday's 2-0 win at Bolton making it four wins – and four clean sheets – on the bounce at the business end of the season.
Victory boosted them level on points with second-placed Chelsea and took them well clear of Arsenal, with whom they had been vying for third.
The Blues boss says his players exceeded expectation by achieving such a high finish – and winning the FA Cup – in their first season together.
And that is why he suggested that last night’s Player of the Year award should have been scrapped – and a Squad of the Year trophy presented to the lot.
“Our first target this season was fourth position and to improve on last year, but the players have been fantastic and did a great job,” he said.
“They won the FA Cup and ended up in second position - Chelsea scored more goals than us but we have the same points.
The Blues finished with a flourish, winning the last four games – all with clean sheets – including the FA Cup final against Stoke and the crunch against Champions League qualification rivals Tottenham.
“In the last 14 days we have played really well.
“The player of the year is difficult. We should really have a Squad of the Year prize because so many players played very, very well.”
Mancini says he will take a well-earned holiday back in Italy before turning his thoughts to next season.
But, after declaring early in the season that he had designs on the title“I came here to win the title but we have to do it step by step.
“It is difficult to win the Premier League title as there are four or five very strong squads.
“But this year we got 71 points, the same as Chelsea and four more than Arsenal, who are one of the top teams in Europe.
“This year we did a really good job. Now I think I need a holiday! I am very tired because we have worked hard and the players also need a break.”
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