Mancini banking on top four finish and trophy

City head to Fulham on Sunday and a first encounter with Mark Hughes since the Welshman was dismissed in acrimonious circumstances by the Blues' cash-rich Abu Dhabi-based owners in December last year.

For Mancini it promises to be an ordeal, not least because the statistics surrounding his own tenure are open to criticism. The Italian has gleaned exactly the same number of points from the first 13 games of this campaign that Hughes managed in the last, and the Blues have also lost three times, compared to only once at this point 12 months ago.

What would make people sit up is if the Blues were able to end a trophy drought that will have lasted for 35 years by the time they next get an opportunity to win one, and that goes alongside a place in the Champions League next season.

Mancini is confident both targets will be achieved.

"We are in fourth position, three points behind United but we must check at the end of the season," said Mancini. "At the end of the season I think we will get into the Champions League and probably we will win something. This is my opinion because I believe we have improved a lot."

Source: PA

Source: PA