Winning a Premier League title is hard, but retaining it the following season is an even greater challenge – and Manchester City now know that all too well.
After beating Stoke City, Manchester United reopened a 15-point lead over their noisy neighbours as the Premier League trophy seemingly heads back to Old Trafford.
Inspired by Robin van Persie – a transfer target for Roberto Mancini last summer – United have responded emphatically to the Citizens’ first title in 44 years last season.
Despite City’s deserved Manchester derby victory at Old Trafford last week, a 20th league title for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men is effectively a formality now.
The critics have been out in force and pointing to weaknesses in City’s title defence, with many laying the blame at Mancini’s door.
It is no secret last summer’s principal transfer targets were not Javi Garcia, Scott Sinclair or Maicon, but instead the likes of van Persie and Javi Martinez.
Perhaps Mancini is partly at fault for not pursuing his targets more vigorously, but he was certainly not helped by City’s board being reluctant to part with cash.
For a man who signed a five-year deal with City last summer – worth a reported £37million – it would be foolish to suggest he should be sacked after a failed title defence.
In the present climate, the Italian remains the man to lead the Etihad Stadium outfit for next season’s campaign at the very least.
City look certain to clinch second in the league and, with the greatest respect to Wigan Athletic, are overwhelming favourites to win the FA Cup.
Wigan will have to play unbelievably well and face City on an off day to have a chance of winning at Wembley.
To win a trophy and finish as league runners-up is certainly not a failure for City, unlike the drab Champions League group stage exit for the second consecutive season.
This, amongst many other things, must be one of Mancini’s biggest concerns for next season and could spell the end of his reign if he fails.
That is not to say that groups including Bayern Munich, Napoli and Villarreal one year and Real Madrid, Ajax and Borussia Dortmund the next are easy prospects.
But to not win any games and finish bottom of the group this season was an embarrassment and a feat Mancini can ill afford next season.
One suspects if Pep Guardiola had not pledged to join Bayern next season, chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak may have wielded the axe on Mancini.
This is particularly true when you consider City already have Ferran Soriano as chief executive and Txiki Begiristain as director of football – both former Barcelona employees.
The City board clearly have aspirations to create an English Barca behind the scenes, and Guardiola electing to move to Germany was a major blow to them.
Not that being stuck with Mancini is a particularly bad option – he has brought silverware to the Etihad Stadium for the past three seasons.
By hook or by crook, Mancini will undoubtedly be sitting in the City dugout next season – but can ill afford the problems this campaign has shown.
Otherwise he can expect to pay for it with his job.
Picture courtesy of Manchester City, via Youtube, with thanks.
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