Manchester City has confirmed that Roberto Mancini has been dismissed from the post of manager, a year after he led them to Premier League glory, because he failed to achieve the targets demanded of him this season.
According to City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, the Italian had been told to retain the Premier League title and make it to the latter stages of the Champions League, but did not manage either one, adding that the poor FA Cup display had been the final nail in the coffin of Mancini's sacking, the Mirror reports.
The report further said that Mancini's assistant Brian Kidd will take charge for City's final two games of the season following which the manager's post will be handed over to Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini, with City set to pay out around two million pounds in compensation to land the Chilean.
According to the report, Mancini, who reigned for a three-and-a-half years at City, will receive a pay-off in the region of 10 million pounds as he has still less than one year into a 7.5 million-pound five-year deal.
Confirming Mancini's sacking, City stated that although the decision had been difficult for the owner, chairman and board to make, it, however, is the outcome of a planned end of season review process which showed that despite Mancini's contributions, the club has failed to achieve any of its stated targets this year, with the exception of qualification for next season's UEFA Champions League.
However, Al Mubarak, who also sacked Mancini's predecessor Mark Hughes in 2009, praised the Italian, saying that despite his failures this season, Mancini has earned the respect of the owner, the board and the fans for his hard work and commitment, adding that he has delivered success by breaking the club's 35-year trophy drought and securing the PL title in 2012.
More From This Section
The report further said Mancini's abrasive style and willingness to criticise his players in public had led to dressing-room unrest and further made his employers realise that he had to go.
Pellegrini is set to be installed before the club's summer tour of South Africa and the Far East, the report added.
