Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has insisted that his future at Eastlands does not depend on beating Tottenham (13/5 to beat City in the 90 minutes market) and qualifying for the Champions League.
The Italian leads his side into the game against Spurs on Wednesday night knowing that defeat will curtail their hopes of finishing fourth and joining European football’s elite in next season’s Champions League.
City (10/11 top four finish) have been battling it out for fourth for the majority of the season as they look to establish themselves amongst England’s elite.
The club and their mega-rich Arab owners are desperate to secure Champions League football in order to continue attracting the big names to Eastlands as they plan for another summer of lavish spending.
Having failed to attract some players to the club because they were not in the Champions League City now see the competition as a vital aspect in their development.
With so much on the line should Macini fail to get City into the top four it seems inevitable he will get the chop.
However, the former Inter Milan (8/15 Champions League outright winner) boss doesn’t believe his future as City manager depends on where the club finish this season and claims he would be happy should they only be in the Europa League next season.
“My future does not come down to this game,” said Mancini.
“We have qualified for the Europa League next year, that is important.
“I have worked here for five months. I can build a good future here. We are trying to change the history of the club.”
While Mancini claims not to be feeling the pressure Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is adamant that it’s City who need a result more than Spurs.
Should the north London outfit lose they could still catch City on the last day of the season, but only if West Ham do them a favour and take three points from the Eastlands club.
However, Redknapp admits he is keen to wrap up their place in the top four as quickly as possible and not have to rely on other sides doing them favours.
“At the start of the season, we would have been delighted with a European place or being in the top seven, so to have a chance of making the Champions League is great for us,” said the former Portsmouth boss.
Spurs fans will be keen to avoid another last day play-off for fourth having faltered at the final hurdle in 2006 when the majority of the squad had food poisoning and were beaten 3-1 by West Ham, handing local rivals Arsenal the last Champions League spot.
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