Roberto Mancini claims he is under fire at Manchester City because he is Italian

Posted Friday, November 05, 2010 by theguardian.com

• City manager rails against 'nationalist' English media
• 'Why should I worry about being fired? This does not exist'

Roberto Mancini claims he is under fire at Manchester City because he is Italian
Roberto Mancini will come under more scrutiny after defeat in Poland.

Manchester City's manager, Roberto Mancini, believes he has been targeted by the English media because he is Italian and says he does not fear for his job.

Reports have been circulating for the past month that the former Internazionale coach is close to the sack after several alleged bust-ups with members of his expensively assembled squad.

The conjecture reached new levels after City's defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend and that has forced Mancini, who was downcast after last night's Europa League defeat at Lech Poznan, to hit back.

City sit fourth in the Premier League and Mancini therefore thinks he deserves respect. He is quoted as saying by the Italian newspaper Il Secolo XIX: "The tabloids rage against us because City are headed by an Italian. I'm sorry to say, but the English are nationalists in football.

"City are fourth in the standings, and were in second place. The club have asked me to qualify for next season's Champions League and we are going well for that."

He added: "Why should I worry about being fired? This does not exist. The team are against me? Lies, all rubbish. There were hard discussions with some players, but the team follows me and the results are arriving."