Mancini: My squad have 11 games to save their Manchester City careers

Mar 3, 2013 11:45:00 AM

The Premier League champions trail rivals Manchester United by 15 points and the Italian warns that he will make decisions about next season's squad based on the remaining matches

Roberto Mancini has warned his Manchester City players that they face the axe if they fail to impress him in the 11 remaining games of the season as they look to haul back leaders Manchester United to retain their Premier League title.

The champions have found the defence of their 2011-12 triumph difficult, with Sir Alex Ferguson's side racing 15 points clear at the top of the table to leave the Italian manager's future at the Etihad Stadium uncertain.

But, despite the disappointment of City trailing their bitter rivals, Mancini has called on his squad to prove that they will be up to the task next season by finishing this campaign as strongly as possible.

"The games we have from now until the end of the season are very important," he told reporters. "At this moment we don't know what players we can buy at the end of the season and which players can leave.

"Some players will want to leave because they don't play and they will want more chances to play. Maybe that will happen. These are decisions for the next 11 games, yes."

City have a game in hand over United but must win at Aston Villa on Monday night to close to within 12 points of the Red Devils once again. However, Mancini still feels that the leaders could slip up - just as they did last season.

"It is difficult to see where United will drop points but last year no-one thought they would lose the game against Wigan or other games," he continued.

"When you get to the last seven, eight or nine games of the season, it becomes harder for everyone because teams are playing for relegation, the Europa League and the Champions League.

"Every game becomes difficult then, especially when you are playing every three days. United have a lot of games - important games - in the Champions League and FA Cup. We hope they can lose points, but we don't know when and we don't know where."

Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Sign up today with Coral and get a £50 FREE bet - no strings attached!
Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!

play

open

Inside Goal.Com

Player Ratings: Siena 1-2 AC Milan
Goal was on hand to judge all the players as Allegri's men finished third in Serie A and secured a Champions League berth next season
Player Ratings: Barcelona 2-1 Valladolid
Goal rates the players on show as the newly-crowned Liga champions cruised past the challenge of Miroslav Djukic's men to keep up hopes of reaching 100 points
Arsenal hold their nerve in top-four battle
Arsene Wenger's side produced a clinical performance to secure a top-four Premier League finish but now they must kick on if they wish to challenge for honours next year
Player Ratings: Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal
Laurent Koscielny's 52nd-minute volley secured the Gunners the win over Alan Pardew's side and made sure they would be playing Champions League football next season
Player Ratings: West Brom 5-5 Man Utd
Sir Alex Ferguson was given a farewell to remember, but certainly not for the right reasons as the Romelu Lukaku-led hosts battled back from three goals down to earn an unlikely point