Roberto Mancini Faces Challenge at Manchester City

Roberto Mancini has an outstanding record in Serie A. However that record has been questioned, because of his failures in Europe with Inter, as well as the Calcipoli scandal which crippled rivals Juventus, and also affected several other big clubs.  Mancini has never defeated an English side a manager in European competitions. Despite the criticisms, Mancini’s success with three different Italian clubs as a manager speaks for itself.

Additionally, Mancini, in his coaching career has never managed a single British footballer before and may force a continental brand of football on a group of players unwilling or incapable of playing such a style. Under Mark Hughes, the Citizens had focused its buying on players with experience in English Football with his transfer dealings. The current City team is made up of players, both British and foreign, who have spent the bulk of their professional careers in England.

Additionally the manager has reportedly had trouble mastering English, and that eliminated him from consideration for the previously vacant Sunderland and Chelsea jobs.  Cultural and linguistic acclimation to England is difficult at anytime of the year, but especially in the middle of winter when trying to lead a struggling football club.

Mancini may have been a smart hire for City this past summer, or after the conclusion of the 2009-10 Premier League Season. But right now, the hiring looks forced, desperate and unwise. Given, the nature of the current squad, and Mancini’s style and experience, a complete overhaul may be needed in January to satisfy the manager.

Players that are accustomed to British styled tactics are likely to struggle under Mancini. This includes several players bought for the club by Hughes in the last two transfer windows. One British player likely to improve under Mancini however, is Gareth Barry, who seemed uncomfortable in Hughes 4-3-3 setup. Barry has been outstanding for England under Fabio Capello.

In Mancini’s playing career, he spent a mere four matches in England on loan to Leicester City in 2001. Mancini was good for Sampdoria and Lazio, but never good enough to make the type of impact for the Azzuri that his club record would have indicated.  As a manager, he has not been highly regarded enough to be seriously considered yet for the Azzuri job.

Assisting Mancini will be former City striker Brian Kidd who fulfilled the same job for Manchester United for many years, before his move to Blackburn. He has since had a public falling out with Sir Alex Ferguson.

The connection between Kidd and Mancini appears to be the time Kidd spent working under Mancini mentor Sven Goran Eriksson. Kidd is a native Mancunian and played for both City and United as well as spending several years stateside in the NASL.

Mancini is certainly among the best available managers City could have hired. But this hiring would have been smoother had it been done in the summer, not in the dead of winter, with the club struggling. The manager could have acclimated himself to the English game more easily with the lead time summer training and friendlies provide.

Related analysis:

1. Manchester City 4-2 Chelsea: Beat Down at The Bridge