Roberto Mancini is unfazed by the expectation for Manchester City to retain their Premier League crown following their UEFA Champions League exit.
------------------------------------------------------------
Predict result and win big with Soccer6
------------------------------------------------------------
City's draw with Real Madrid in midweek ended their participation on the European main stage following another poor showing through the group stages.
The Citizens are now left with domestic ambitions as their primary focus, and Mancini isn't concerned with talk that he is now under pressure to deliver another title.
The Italian said: "I think we could be disappointed because we wanted to go and play the February stage in the Champions League, because we have good players and these players probably deserved to play in this competition.
"But we don't have pressure. We know we have a chance to win if we stay together in a difficult moment like now, but we do not have pressure because we went out of the Champions League."
City made a major statement last season with their impressive, winning performances, but have struggled to achieve a similar level of dominance in 2012/13.
Mancini, though, insists the Eastlands outfit may still be dogged by an inferiority complex having only recently pushed for higher honours.
He said: "We are Manchester City - we are not Real Madrid, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, who are used to winning every year for 100 years and have big histories.
"We are Manchester City and for 35 years we didn't win. Now in two years we won three trophies and I think that is good for us.
"It is clear we want to win every year if possible but this is impossible because in football only one team will win the Premier League and the Champions League. The other teams can't win."
Post A Comment!
Be the first to post a comment on this story