There are no favourites when Manchester City meet Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup final on Saturday, insists Roberto Mancini.
City go into the all-North West Wembley showpiece widely-fancied to take home the trophy for the second time in three years.
However, their Italian boss is eager to avoid complacency, after Tony Pulis’s Stoke City almost upset them in the 2011 final.
“I don’t think that in a final one team is the favourite,” said Mancini. “Two years ago we were favourites and we had problems because Stoke played very well.
“I think this year will be the same because it’s an important moment for Wigan.”
Mancini is relishing the occasion and the opportunity to end the season with some silverware, after being left for dead by Manchester United in the Premier League title race.
However, he insisted this season has been a success, regardless of how Saturday’s final finishes and not every campaign can result in glory.
“To play at Wembley is special, it’s a special game,” said the 48-year-old. “The FA Cup final is an important game and it’s important to prepare very well.
“When you start the season you want to win the best trophies and the most trophies that you can but sometimes this is not possible.
“Before this final we have had a good season – not like last year, that’s abnormal because we won a Premier League.”
Wigan have never reached the FA Cup final before and will be excited by the occasion, but they also have a relegation battle to focus on.
However, Mancini believes the fact that Roberto Martinez’s side have just two games left to preserve their Premier League status changes nothing at Wembley.
He also backed Martinez to save the Latics from the drop, as he has managed to do for a number of years now.
“The final is the final,” added Mancini. “It’s not important what can happen in the Premier League.
“After that, they have a chance because they have two games to stay in the Premier League and I think they have a good chance.
“Also because Martinez in this moment is a very strong manager and he knows very well this situation.”
Mancini can enjoy a clean bill of health, after resting a number of players against West Brom on Tuesday and welcoming Yaya Toure back to full fitness.
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