Source: Daily_Mail
EXCLUSIVE: Are Mancini's days at Manchester City numbered already?
Looking down: Roberto Mancini's only salvation would be a top-four finish this season[LNB]Roberto Mancini's tenure at Manchester City is coming under intense boardroom scrutiny for the first time after a dismal run of two wins in eight matches which has left the world's richest club in danger of ending the season with nothing.[LNB] Sportsmail understands that there is increasing anxiety, with executives questioning for the first time whether they made the right choice when replacing Mark Hughes with the enigmatic Italian at the end of last year. [LNB]City lost 3-1 after extra time at Stoke City on Wednesday to crash out of the FA Cup. That came on the back of an exciting but disappointing Carling Cup semi-final defeat by Manchester United at the end of last month. [LNB]The only challenge that remains is for Mancini's City to try to qualify for the Champions League. Such an achievement would undoubtedly secure Mancini's future but anything else is increasingly likely to see him on his way back to Italy after six months. [LNB]City's official line on Mancini - who has thought from the start that he would be on his way this summer if he did not finish in the top four - is that he will remain in charge into the summer and beyond. [LNB]However, the official line on Hughes was that he would not be sacked, at least until a few days beforehand. [LNB]City executives are also disturbed by the mundane, unambitious football that has recently begun to characterise his reign. [LNB] Failure: Stoke dumped City out of the FA Cup on Wednesday[LNB]Since Mancini arrived at the club, only three of his 15 games have offered any real encouragement of a bright future. These were a 3-0 win at Wolves, a 2-1 Carling Cup first-leg win over neighbours United and a 4-1 home win over Blackburn. The rest, even the victories, have been mundane and unconvincing. [LNB]Mancini's harshest critics suggest City have not beaten anybody of note in the League since his arrival and that he is likely to be found out against Chelsea, United, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Everton and Spurs. [LNB]Discontent? Craig Bellamy[LNB]On the credit side, Mancini has gone some way to making City a better defensive unit. But, in the other half of the field, City players have been sapped of confidence.[LNB] Details of dressing room unrest and players objecting to Mancini's training regimes are well documented and do not always merit undue attention. Players moan about training at every club. [LNB]However, the griping has been particularly intense at City in recent weeks and some senior players are suffering. The form of Stephen Ireland and Shaun Wright-Phillips has disappeared this season.[LNB] It was not impressive under Hughes but has got worse since the Welshman left. Indeed, one only had to observe the body language of players as Mancini tried to deliver a team talk before extra time at the Britannia Stadium on Wednesday to see that some players are simply not listening. [LNB]Craig Bellamy, meanwhile, did not seem too bothered about listening to Brian Kidd, the assistant Mancini was presented with by the City board when he arrived.[LNB] Another problem that City would have as they tried to move forward is in identifying a successor. There is an overwhelming fondness for Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho - which is hardly surprising - and City's football administrator Brian Marwood would love to tempt Arsene Wenger from Arsenal one day. [LNB]Away from football, Mancini is flat-hunting in Cheshire. He may be advised to wait a while. [LNB] Family comes first for Tevez as Man City striker returns to face ChelseaZabaleta won't let FA Cup defeat disrupt Man City's Champions League pushEngland boss Fabio Capello hopes to persuade Wayne Bridge to join World Cup squadMANCHESTER CITY FC
