Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini plans summer spree

Roberto Mancini is set to bring in up to FIVE new faces to build a City squad capable of challenging in the Champions League.

The City manager says he is still focused on achieving a “perfect” season by adding the FA Cup to their qualification for the elite European tournament.

But work will begin in earnest in the next fortnight to bring in a raft of new players to bolster the quality of Mancini’s squad.

City fans hoping for the a fistful of world stars may be disappointed, however.

M.E.N. Sport understands that the Blues are looking to add a couple of marquee names – with flying Udinese winger Alexis Sanchez and Wesley Sneijder high on the list – and then two or three less glamorous players.

City are set to clear the decks this summer, with as many as nine players expected to leave – Emmanuel Adebayor, Craig Bellamy, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Patrick Vieira, Jo, Wayne Bridge, Felipe Caicedo, Nedum Onuoha and Roque Santa Cruz.

And with Carlos Tevez’s future still uncertain until his representatives sit down with City officials shortly after the end of the season, City will need to re-structure their squad.

They originally planned two or three signings, but the potential loss of Tevez and the chance that Kolo Toure may face a lengthy ban after failing a drug test has forced a rethink.

And if the Blues move on those players on their unwanted list, and end up selling Tevez as well, it will generate sizeable incoming fees, vital as the Blues are conscious that Uefa’s new financial fair play rules kick in next season and they have to start living within their means.

The Blues have already expressed an interest in lightning-fast winger Sanchez, who stareed at last summer’s World Cup, and Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder may figure in any Inter Milan bid for Tevez.

They are also monitoring developments with Ajax defenders Jan Vertonghen and Gregory van der Wiel and Bolton’s Gary Cahill.

Mancini has also said that if Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Barcelona star on loan at AC Milan, changes his mind about not wanting to join City, he would “find room” for him at City, but that possible deal is one that might have come off last year but is now dead in the water.

The manager is refusing to talk about potential signings until after the FA Cup final and the pursuit of Arsenal in third place is settled next week.

“I know we can now have a perfect season, if we can recover well for the final,” said Mancini. “Getting in the Champions league means our targets will be higher.

“But in the last year we brought good players – Yaya Toure, Mario Balotelli, David Silva, Jerome Boateng, Edin Dzeko, James Milner, Aleks Kolarov. They are all fantastic players.

“Next year these players can improve as it is not easy to play in the Premier League.” The manager laughed off Harry Redknapp’s suggestion that City already had two big signings in the bag.

“I don't know,” he said. “In Europe there are many players who can play for Manchester City. But the same can play in other important teams.”

But he did warn that City need to strengthen considerably if they are to juggle Premier League, Champions League and the domestic cups next season.

“Tottenham had this problem this year, and they had 26 or 27 good players,” he said. “When you play in the Champions League and want to try and win the title, you need many players. It is very hard without that.

“I don't know how many players I will need at this moment. We have four very important days to recover and think about the final. After that we have time to think and talk about new players.”

Delighted Mancini challenges squad to catch Arsenal

Delight: Roberto Mancini congratulates Patrick Vieira

 

Roberto Mancini led City to the promised land – then declared: "We can be one of the best in Europe within three years!"
The City manager fulfilled the first half of his remit for the season as the Blues secured fourth place, and can complete the job with victory in the FA Cup final against Stoke on Saturday.
But Mancini will not rest there – he feels Arsenal are catchable, which would mean securing third place and not having to negotiate a tricky Champions League play-off in early August.
Last night’s 1-0 win over Tottenham means the Blues are certain of a place in those play-offs, at least.
But with some big names lying in wait there – including Bayern Munich, Lyon, Villarreal and possibly Benfica, Ajax and this season’s Europa League conquerors Dynamo Kiev – Mancini has his eyes firmly fixed on Arsenal.
City lie two points behind the Gunners with two games to play, and third place would send the Blues straight into the money-spinning group stages of the competition.
"In two or three years we could become one of the top teams in Europe," said Mancini, who said his players will now "eat and sleep" for two days to get ready for the FA Cup final.
Then it will be back down to the league grind, facing Stoke again at home next Tuesday before a trip to Bolton to round off the season.
"It is important we try to get third," said Mancini. "That is why it is so incredible that we lost three points against Everton after playing some fantastic football.
"Now we are two points behind Arsenal, and a lot of it is down to them. If they lose three points, we can do it – it is difficult but we will try."
Mancini has had his own position questioned all season, but he is now just 90 minutes from doing exactly what the club’s owners asked of him at the start of the season.
He said: "I sat down with the owners last summer and they told me they wanted Champions League football – now we have got it.
"We had some problems at the start of the season because players were coming back from the World Cup.
"Next year I think we will be better.
"But we brought in good players, players who deserve to play in the Champions League, not in the Europa League.
"We already have Champions League players, and we deserve to be there because we have been in the top four all season.
"It is a difficult thing to achieve, as there are six or seven teams in the Premier League that are very strong. But we have improved a lot since last year."
As a bonus, Carlos Tevez played 15 minutes and will be involved at Wembley, but Gareth Barry, who has a hamstring problem, should find out today whether he will be fit.

Manchester City eye Ajax centre back Jan Vertonghen

WATCHING BRIEF: Roberto Mancini

 

Manchester City are set to join the race to sign Ajax’s big Belgian centre half Jan Vertonghen.

Blues boss Roberto Mancini was spotted at the Dutch Cup final checking out the 24-year-old Belgian, who plays international football alongside City star Vincent Kompany.

Arsenal and Liverpool have already expressed an interest in the £12million-rated stopper, who has already said he will leave Ajax for the Premier League this summer.

Ajax coach Frank de Boer, whose side lost to Twente in the final, said afterwards: “We know that Mancini was there. And I know the rumours from England that City wants him. One and one is two.”

Vertonghen has also attracted interest from United and AC Milan in the past. City may face the prospect of losing Kolo Toure for most of next season as the Ivorian awaits the outcome of his positive drugs test earlier this season.

Vertonghen has also successfully played as a defensive midfielder this season. Mancini will also have taken a careful look at right back Gregory van der Wiel, a player who attracted City’s interest last season.

Manchester City's summer signings will 'blow your brains out'

POSSIBLE TARGETS: Kaka and Wesley Sneijder

 

Manchester City have lined up a couple of 'mind-blowing' summer signings if they can clinch Champions League football.

The Blues go into tonight's showdown with main rivals Tottenham needing a win to ensure a place in the play-offs for the elite European competition.

And if they do so, rival manager Harry Redknapp claims he has heard they have already got two major names lined up.

“They tell me they've got one or two players signed already who'll blow your brains out,” said Redknapp, whose side need to win tonight to retain any chance of overhauling the Blues.

“That's where they are going. They aren't going to stop until they win the title, and then the Champions League.”

City will be spurred on by the memories of Tottenham’s wild celebrations at Eastlands last season.

Manager Roberto Mancini says that stunning home defeat by Tottenham, courtesy of a late Peter Crouch goal, was a crushing blow.

But this time City need a draw to virtually end their visitors’ hopes and just two points from the last three league games to see off Liverpool’s challenge as well.

Mancini has steadfastly refused to discuss his plans for the summer, focusing entirely on tonight and Saturday’s FA Cup final against Stoke.

But the sight of Spurs players lapping up the adulation of their fans at Eastlands just over a year ago is still raw in Mancini’s memory.

“Last year it was hard to take,” he said. “It was important then that we played until the end.

“That time it was difficult to say whether we deserved a draw because both teams played hard to get into the Champions League.

“They did it, but this time we have a great chance.

“Tottenham are a good team, with a good manager and good players but we have the lead so we have the better chance. It will be an exciting game for sure.”

Mancini also believes his side has improved noticeably from the team which let it slip on that fateful Eastlands night.

“We are better than we were last year,” he said. “We have improved a lot this year, but we need to pay attention.

“It is difficult to say whether we are now better than Spurs, but this year Tottenham have been in the Champions League and that is very difficult.

“We have to beat them. It will be very hard as they will come to win the game.

“All that is important is that we get fourth place – how we do it isn’t important, but if we beat Tottenham it makes it more exciting.”

City fans’ excitement at possibly reaching the Champions League for the first time will be heightened by Redknapp's comments.

His claim comes at a time when City have reportedly been lining up a move for pacy Spain winger Juan Mata, and revives talk the Blues will be back in for Real Madrid ace Kaka and Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder.

Manchester City v Tottenham: Preview

Gareth Barry

 

Gareth Barry is expected to be available for Manchester City after recovering from what Roberto Mancini described as "a minor problem" at the weekend, with the Blues knowing victory will secure a place in next season's Champions League qualifiers at worst.

Skipper Carlos Tevez is expected to be named on the bench. The Argentinian was absent for the fourth game since injuring his hamstring at Liverpool when he missed Saturday's defeat at Everton but Mancini wants Tevez to prove his fitness ahead of next weekend's FA Cup final.

Mancini said: “I will tell the City fans to stay calm.

“We are not far from the Champions League – we have three games in which to get three points.

“And then the final is the final and in 90 minutes anything can happen. We know it will be difficult because the final is always difficult and Stoke are a strong team.”

Tottenham will be without several key players for the game.

Gareth Bale (ankle), Benoit Assou-Ekotto (hamstring) and Tom Huddlestone (ankle) are out while there are doubts over Peter Crouch (back) and Luka Modric (hip).

Steven Pienaar could miss out with an ankle problem and Jonathan Woodgate (calf), Ledley King (groin), Wilson Palacios and Alan Hutton (both knee) are all unavailable.

Manchester City (from): Hart, Given, Taylor, Richards, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, Boyata, Wright-Phillips, Y Toure, De Jong, Vieira Milner, Barry, Johnson, Silva, Tevez, Dzeko, Balotelli, Jo, McGivern.

Tottenham Hotspur (from): Gomes, Cudicini, Pletikosa, Corluka, Bassong, Gallas, Dawson, Kaboul, Lennon, Kranjcar, Pienaar, Sandro, Modric, Jenas, Rose, Kranjcar, Van der Vaart, Defoe, Pavlyuchenko, Crouch.

City league form: WLWWL

Tottenham league form: WDDLD

FA Cup: Injured Carlos Tevez rated '50%' for final

Tevez's return to the side would be a huge boost ahead of the Cup final 

 

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini says Carlos Tevez has a 50% chance of being fit for the FA Cup final after his recent hamstring injury.

Tevez has not played since 11 April and Mancini says if the striker is not fit to train before Tuesday's game with Tottenham he is unlikely to face Stoke.
"He must train. In the next days we'll see if it is possible," he said.
"If he can play 20 minutes we can see if he can play or not. At the moment I think he's 50% for the final."
Mancini's team take on Stoke at Wembley on 14 May in their first FA Cup final appearance since 1981 and will they will be desperate for the talismanic club captain to be fit for selection.
Tevez missed the semi-final win over his former club Manchester United and was not involved in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Everton, a result which places even more emphasis on Tuesday's game at Eastlands.
City and Tottenham are leading the race for the fourth and final Champions League place - although Liverpool are also still in the frame - a tussle which was kept alive when City lost at Goodison Park, despite having gone ahead.
"It was incredible we lost this game," said Mancini.
"We dominated in the first half and had four or five chances to score.
"But this is football. If you lose concentration, if you concede a yard to the other team, it is difficult.
"A game like today we should never lose. If we want to become a strong team, we cannot lose this game.
"We shouldn't lose it because we had more chances to score in the second half."
Meanwhile, Everton boss David Moyes played down the spat between his players and City's staff at the end of the game.
Everton's Tim Cahill and City's Aleksandar Kolarov appeared to exchange words while Phil Neville was involved in heated discussion with Mancini and his assistant Brian Kidd.
When asked what sparked the incident, Mancini said: "I don't know because I wanted to take off Kolarov. I don't know what upset them."
Moyes said: "It wasn't Phil Neville. I think one of their players said Seamus Coleman had elbowed them or something like that, but it was nothing.
"All the fighting was done in the 90 minutes, not after the game."

FA Cup fury: Manchester City fans fume as Stoke handed over 2000 extra final tickets

Wembley Stadium

 

Manchester City fans are fuming after missing out on the last 2,300 FA Cup final tickets - which were given to opponents Stoke instead.

And supporters have accused the Football Association of fouling up over their allocation for next Saturday's Wembley showpiece.

Both clubs were originally handed just over 25,000 tickets for the final, City's first for 30 years.

But now Stoke will have more than 2,000 extra seats to sell to their fans due to the way in which the FA redistributes so-called 'neutral' places.

That is despite the fact that the Staffordshire club have only 21,000 season-ticket holders, compared to City's 36,000.

And Stoke officials have claimed that they got the extra tickets after successfully lobbying the FA.

City sold out the last of their cup final allocation on Wednesday morning ­ and there are fears that Blues fans desperate to be at Wembley will now try to buy tickets on the black market, and could end up in the Stoke section of the ground.

Kevin Parker, general secretary of the City Supporters Club, is critical of the FA.

He said: "My gut reaction is that the FA don¹t seem to have planned this particularly well.

"I know there will be thousands of City fans who will be aggrieved that they haven' been given an extra allocation and Stoke have ­- especially as City's average attendance is higher, and we have more season-ticket holders.

"I don't begrudge Stoke fans their extra tickets for the final, but it's galling that the same opportunity hasn't been given to City's supporters.

"It means now that the search for FA Cup final tickets goes on for City's fans. I'm sure they will do their best to get tickets at face value, but that looks very unlikely now."

Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes hailed the FA's decision to release the extra tickets.

"We stated our case to the FA for more tickets when we received the initial allocation, so we are delighted that this has been successful in securing the additional number of tickets now," Scholes said.

"It was a concern to us that so many who had been among the 34,000 at Wembley for the semi-final [against Bolton] would be unable to get a ticket for the big day, especially as it is the first time the club has reached the final in its 148-year history."

An FA spokesman told the M.E.N. that the reallocated tickets were originally designated for their 'Football Family', which includes non-league clubs and grass-roots football organisations.

He added that those tickets were originally spilt 50-50, with anyone applying told to state whether they would be supporting City or Stoke.

"Both clubs were originally given 25,000 tickets each, with the rest going to the Football Family," the spokesman said.

"At the FA Cup final, there is no neutral section as such, so applicants were given the choice of being in the Stoke end or the Manchester City end.

"The Manchester City allocation of Football Family tickets sold out, but 2,300 tickets for the Stoke section were returned. Those tickets have now been passed on to Stoke ­ but it doesn't mean there will be more Stoke fans in the ground than Manchester City fans."

Parker, though, has argued that the FA's allocation system could be a recipe for trouble.

He said: "The problem is that you could have Stoke and City fans mixed together on the day.

"I'm certainly not saying that either set of supporters would be looking for trouble, but in a hotbed like that, there is a potential for it."