Manchester City’s decision to sack manager Roberto Mancini was ‘harsh’, according to David Moyes, the incoming boss of rivals United.
The Italian led City to FA Cup glory in 2011 and followed it up with the Premier League last season, but he failed to secure any silverware this time around.
However, Moyes, who will take the reins at Old Trafford after Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, is not convinced Mancini’s performance warranted a sacking.
“It’s harsh,” said the Scot. “It is difficult to say on Mancini because I am not on the inside there.
“But I look at a club that has now won a title and FA Cup recently, been in another FA Cup final and finished second in the league.”
City fell drastically behind United in this year’s title race and failed to claim a single win during another disappointing Champions League campaign.
The FA Cup appeared to be a saving grace for Mancini, but defeat to Wigan in this month’s final proved to be the 48-year-old’s final contribution for the club.
And, as City move forward with a new manager – widely expected to be Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini – their owners are also building for the future.
As well as the ongoing development of the new training centre, the club are planning to expand the Etihad Stadium into a 60,000 all-seater.
Plans are in place to add 6,000 seats to the South Stand, with the second phase to be carried out on the North Stand, increasing the capacity by 12,000 in total.
After a consultation exercise with the community, City will submit a planning application to Manchester City Council in August.
Building work could then start as early as January 2014, with an aim of completing the expansion in time for the start of the 2015-16 season.
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