Source: Daily_Mail
Roberto Mancini eyes Premier League title within 18 months after taking reins at Manchester City
Roberto Mancini today targeted a top-four finish as he was presented as Manchester City's new manager.[LNB]And the ambitious Italian believes he can deliver the title to Eastlands next season as he revealed he would revel in overtaking Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United.[LNB]Speaking to the media for the first time since being appointed as Mark Hughes' successor, Mancini warned his players they had just a week to prove themselves before he would decide on January transfer targets.[LNB] Welcome to Eastlands: Manchester City's new manager Roberto Mancini is presented[LNB] 'My squad usually play to win, always,' he said. 'My target is to arrive inthe top four - but it's my objective, my target. I think it's possible.[LNB] HAVE YOUR SAY... Are Manchester City right to replace Mark Hughes with Roberto Mancini? What do you make of the goings on at Manchester City? Were the ambitious club right to axe manager Mark Hughes? And is Roberto Mancini the right man to take the Eastlands hot seat? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK 'Next year we want to win the Premier League.[LNB]'City is a big club. I want to stay here for many, manyyears and I want to contribute to winning many trophies because Cityhas great supporters and I hope we do a good job for them.[LNB]'My job is to work hard every day to improve the play, to improve the victories. This is all.I think I can do a good job because we have good players.'[LNB]Mancini took training with the City players for the first time on Monday but will not take long to decide if he needs to again open City's seemingly endless chequebook.[LNB]'I told them to believe in ourselves and they are great players and we can win if we work hard every day,' he said. 'I want to see this week the players and after we'll make a decision (about targets). For now it's important we concentrate on Stoke.'[LNB] Anger: Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook (right) sits alongside Mancini at the press conference[LNB]One player he is determined to hold on to is Robinho. Barcelona president Joan Laporta earlier ruled out a January move for the Brazil forward and Mancini believes the 25-year-old can write himself into City's history, comparing the situation to how he became a Sampdoria hero during a 15 year-spell as a player.[LNB][LNB]Determined: Mancini wants to keep hold of Robinho[LNB]The 45-year-old also voiced his sympathy for the outgoing Hughes, but ruthlessly admitted that getting the sack was a hazard of the job he knew only to well after being discarded by Inter Milan last year despite delivering seven trophies in four years with the Serie A giants.[LNB]'I'm sorry for Mark but when we start this job, this situation is possible,' he said. 'My job is a manager. I stayed in Italy for four years and I won seven trophies. At the end of the season they sacked me. This is our job. I don't want to look back.'[LNB]Hughes was sacked on Saturday evening, despite leading City to a 4-3 win against Sunderland and leaving the club in sixth place in the Barclays Premier League.[LNB]Sportsmail understands that there is disquiet among several senior City players about the way Hughes lost his job. [LNB]Craig Bellamy is even considering his future after forging a close bond with Hughes that includes time working together with the Wales national team and at Blackburn.[LNB]However, Mancini insisted he understood how the striker felt and believed that he would have no issue with the player once the dust had settled in Manchester.[LNB]Mancini confirmed his contract will run for three and a half years and revealed former City boss Sven Goran Eriksson - under whom he played in Serie A - had been in touch.[LNB]'Sven called me yesterday, he is very happy for me, he said Manchester City is a fantastic club.'[LNB] They're behind you: Mancini, with Cook, faces the cameras at Eastlands[LNB]'After Inter Milan I wanted to stop for one year but I had four(approaches from clubs). I preferred to wait because I wanted to go toEngland and the Premier League.[LNB]'I played in (the) Premier League 10 years ago with Leicester and I watched the Premier League for many years.[LNB]'Last year I stayed in Milan and I saw a lot of games. I think that football is the same (throughout) the world.'[LNB]City chief executive Garry Cook opened the press conference by ready a prepared statement insisting Mancini had not been offered the job until after the defeat by Tottenham Hotspur last Wednesday.[LNB]However, the former Nike executive admitted the club had started to consider Hughes' future three weeks ago.[LNB]'The decision to seriously look at other managerial options was taken just three weeks ago following the Hull City game (November 28),' said Cook.[LNB] No difference: Carlos Tevez scores as City head for a 4-3 victory over Sunderland, but Hughes (below) still lost his job as manager later on Saturday[LNB]'I think it is important to know that Roberto was only offered the job after the Spurs game (December 16).[LNB]'We negotiated on Thursday, finalised an agreement on Friday and he was not in the stadium on Saturday as was falsely reported.[LNB]'The intention was to tell Mark immediately after the game on Saturday.That would give Roberto and his team a full week to prepare for thenext game.[LNB]'Regrettably, and despite our best efforts, rumours of discussions with Roberto Mancini became public before the game.[LNB]'Once Mark was informed, I informed his coaching staff and the players were then informed. That is why Kolo Toure and Shay Given were asked to attend a meeting after the game.'[LNB]Cook insists the players did not react badly to Hughes' sacking despite reports to the contrary.[LNB]'There was no player rebellion, the playing and training staff are going about their business today as usual, most professionally led by Roberto and Brian Kidd.'[LNB] Manchester City specialRoberto Mancini determined to topple United as he calls for Manchester City to repeat his Inter Milan glory daysVIDEO: Roberto Mancini's first press conference as Manchester City managerFurious Craig Bellamy threatens to follow Mark Hughes out of Manchester City - putting Tottenham on alertThree Scudettos and a relegation. Is Mancini really the right man for City?Hughes was given stay of execution to help Mancini settle in at Man CityBetrayal of a decent man: Sparky axed by cowards as he oversaw cup winVultures: People running City don't deserve to be in English footballMANCHESTER CITY FC
