Source: Daily_Mail
Roque Santa Cruz expects Manchester City to spend big for a title tilt
Manchester City's forgotten man Roque Santa Cruz says the club underperformed this season, but expects a flurry of summer signings to bolster a title charge next term.[LNB]The 28-year-old striker saw City miss out on a coveted Champions League berth with a fifth-placed League finish, despite the enormous investment of billionaire owner Sheik Mansour.[LNB]'It has been a very tough season with a lot of new players,' he said. 'A new team has been built up. We didn't achieve what we expected and of course we can't say that we are happy.[LNB] High flyer: Roque Santa Cruz expects big things from Manchester City next season[LNB]'I think that the pressure is going to grow for us because of the kind of money that the owner is spending on the club.'[LNB]He added: 'We expect next year to not only do well, but also to see if we can fight for the title,' the Paraguayan told a press conference broadcast on Sky Sports News.[LNB]Santa Cruz was an acquisition of former boss Mark Hughes, but a spate of injuries and the appointment of Roberto Mancini at the helm at Eastlands saw the Paraguayan make just six Premier League starts after arriving from Blackburn last summer.[LNB]But Santa Cruz is not frightened of new faces at Eastlands, with the first of City's summer deals to be completed imminently with the £11million purchase of Hamburg defender Jerome Boateng.[LNB] Summer holiday: Santa Cruz (right) travels to South Africa, with Paraguay facing Italy, New Zealand and Slovenia in Group F [LNB]'I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of famous faces around the club,' said Santa Cruz.[LNB]'I think that once the market starts moving we will see more. But I am sure we will have new signings and new people coming.' City boss Mancini denies he'll leave 'bella' England despite Italian rumoursAC Milan move for Ibrahimovic as Barca star cools on City or Chelsea MANCHESTER CITY FC
