Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has taunted the Blues’ Premier League title rivals by claiming the established ‘Big Four’ are “running scared” (City 4/1 – 2010/11 Premier League Outright).
The Eastlands outfit will be the biggest spenders this summer by some distance, with the likes of Yaya Toure, Jerome Boateng, David Silva and Aleksandar Kolarov all arriving for mega-money.
City are also trying to tempt Spain ace Fernando Torres away from Liverpool amid continuing speculation over the 26-year-old’s long-term future at Anfield following their failure to secure Champions League football.
Accusations of making the Premier League an unfair competition have been levelled City’s way, but Mancini claims the Blues are only playing catch-up with his comments sure to raise eyebrows at Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and the Emirates, as well as Anfield.
He said: “Are they scared? I think so. At the moment only Manchester City are buying players.
“But that is normal because Manchester City want to improve and the other teams are just big teams who would like a lot of people.
“All the other teams are trying to put pressure on us because for 10 years there were only four teams challenging for the title.
“This year, there are five. I think all these teams over the years have spent a lot of money – Manchester United, Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool but now City do.
“There isn’t a difference.”
Mancini has made no secret of the fact he is looking to win the Premier League in his first full season in charge of Eastlands.
After succeeding Mark Hughes in the Eastlands hot-seat last December Mancini guided the club to fifth place in the Premier League, losing out to Spurs for the coveted fourth place and with it the chance of Champions League football.
But he has no intention of languishing off the pace this time around (City 13/10 – Premiership Without Man Utd & Chelsea 2010/2011).
“If you remember a few years ago Manchester City were in the Championship, then it is clear every year we must improve,” he said.
“Last year, we fought for fourth place until the penultimate game against Tottenham – the aim this year is to try to win the Premier League.
“That must be our target.”
As well as Torres, Mancini says he has his eye on other strikers including Inter Milan starlet Mario Balotelli.
In a twist of fate, City kick off their season with a trip to Tottenham on August 14 (13/2 – Opening Day Fixtures – Game With Most Goals).
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Manchester City are reportedly preparing an audacious summer raid on Liverpool for Steven Gerrard to boost their Premier League title ambitions for next season (City 6/1 Premier League Outright 2010/2011).
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