Italian lays blame for club’s failed title defence at the feet of those in charge of transfers.
Manchester City head coach Roberto Mancini has claimed that the only reason the champions have failed to defend their title this season is because of the club’s failed transfer policy last summer.
City, who travel to face Premier League leaders and arch-rivals Manchester United in the top flight at Old Trafford on Monday night, targeted a number of big-money signings last year, only to miss out of every single one of them.
And now with their city rivals a massive 15 points clear at the top of the standings with just eight games of the season left to play, the Italian is feeling the heat.
However, Mancini is insistent that had the club been able to recruit the likes of Eden Hazard, Robin van Persie, Javi Martinez, Daniel Agger or Daniele De Rossi last summer, then they would now be both fighting Sir Alex Ferguson’s side to retain their top-flight crown, as well as be competing in the last eight of the Champions League.
“We would probably be at the top … probably also in a Champions League quarter-final,” said Mancini in his pre-match press conference.
“We had a chance to get three or four players that would have improved our team but now it is finished with.”
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