Even winning the FA Cup may not save Mancini

THERE is a feeling in some quarters that Manchester City need to win the FA Cup this season if Roberto Mancini is to remain as manager.

I do not know if that is case or not.
Obviously, if he lifts the famous old trophy next month it will do his chances of keeping his job no harm whatsoever, certainly in the short term.
But if the Italian wants to safeguard his future at City for longer, then he should not be looking towards Chelsea tomorrow and then to Wigan or Millwall on May 11.
He should be looking to Paris.
That is because while the FA Cup may guarantee Mancini a stay of execution at the Etihad, it is the Champions League that will ultimately decide whether the axe falls or not.
His record with City in the continent’s most prestigious competition is awful.
In each of their first two seasons in the tournament, they have failed to make it through the group stage.
This season, they were so bad they did not even qualify for the Europa League.
Mancini says it is because his club were lacking the experience of mixing it with Europe’s elite, and that was totally plausible... until Paris Saint-Germain’s achievements this season.
They were playing in the competition for the first time in EIGHT years and made it through the group and into the last eight, where they were pipped by Barcelona on away goals this week.
The parallels between PSG and City are obvious.
Both are ‘projects’ in progress after being taken over by mega-wealthy new owners.
You cannot help but wonder if Sheikh Mansour is asking why his club were not in the Champions League quarter-finals.
And, unfortunately for Mancini, there is no satisfactory answer.
The fact PSG made it through the group stage means there will be no excuses for the Italian and his City side next season.
They have to make an impact on the Champions League or then you fear it really will be ‘Arrivederci, Roberto’.
But we won’t be saying that next month, even if City get to the FA Cup final and lose.
The Etihad executives will be disappointed they have not retained their league crown.
But it is often harder to defend a title than win it.
Mancini deserves a chance to win the title back. He has done a good job in lots of ways.
Few City bosses have competed as well against rivals United — even if Monday’s 2-1 win at Old Trafford did come too little, too late, as far as the title race is concerned.
But I do not see the point of bringing in a new manager to replace him at this stage.
If a new manager comes in it would mean going back to the drawing board.
There is not much wrong with City, they just needs some tweaks here and there.
Mancini must sit down with the owners in the summer and invest in some new blood that is capable of freshening up the squad and mounting a serious challenge at home.
And, most importantly, in Europe