MANCINI: I DIDN'T STAB HUGHES IN THE BACK
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MANCINI: Feels sympathy for Mark Hughes
ROBERTO MANCINI has admitted he felt sorry for Mark Hughes after his sacking from Manchester City but insists he did not stab him in the back.
The Italian claimed he himself was the victim of a massive injustice when he was replaced by Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan after winning the Serie A title three years in a row.
Hughes had City in sixth place when he was sacked last month.
Mancini has since guided the team closer to the top four and has overseen the win over bitter rivals Manchester United in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final.
He said: "Of course I feel sorry for Mark. He is a very good coach who did well here at City.
"But this is part of our job and I'm sure he knows that. I haven't done anything wrong. I was called by some Manchester City directors and they offered me the job.
"I'm a professional coach and I said yes. Everybody would have done the same in my shoes.
"It's not difficult to imagine Mark's feeling because it's something I experienced when I was sacked after winning the third Scudetto in a row for Inter. It's a bitter feeling but you have to move on."
Spirit
Mancini believes one of his first tasks has been to improve the team spirit of the most expensively assembled squad in the Premier League. The former Italy international added: "We have many good and talented players in the squad but we need to improve our team spirit. At the moment the squad is too big.
"It becomes difficult to work with more than 24 players when you don't play in Europe.
"I would be arrogant if I said that we are going to win the Premier League this year. But I really think we can fight until the very end.
"The target I have set is a place in the next Champions League, which would be a huge step forward for this club. But you shouldn't put limits on your ambitions.
"We won't change many players. I am satisfied with them and after one month here I have to admit the situation is much better than I expected before starting the job.
"Maybe we will need to strengthen the defence because we have had so many injuries but overall I'm happy with these players.
"My first month has been better than I anticipated in every part of my experience. On a personal level I'm still living in a hotel and I miss my family a bit.
"Luckily they joined me for New Year's Eve in London. So far I have gone back to Italy just once, for only 24 hours, to bring over some staff.
"But I am excited more and more by this life and I have to say that Manchester is much prettier than I was led to believe. When I move from the hotel, I will take a flat in the centre of the city as I don't want to live in the countryside."
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Mark Hughes was the dumbest manager in EPL if not the entire world.............those goons from Abu Dhabi have been too kind, i would've FIRED him even before the season got started...............
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Originally posted by As romanista2001:
Mark Hughes was the dumbest manager in EPL if not the entire world.............those goons from Abu Dhabi have been too kind, i would've FIRED him even before the season got started...............
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What has it got to do with Mancini?
He got a job offer and he took it. He doesn't need to inform Hughes before accepting.
