The Italian insists that will be the first step towards
winning the title next season. City face Tottenham tonight in what
has been described as the £50million match for fourth spot and
entry into world football's elite club competition.
Mancini said: "I think we can finish fourth this season
and, yes, it can happen that we can then win the title. I do feel
as though we can change our history so we must be positive.
"This game against Tottenham will probably decide where
we finish this season. If we win we have probably a 70-80 per cent
chance of getting fourth.
"Of course, after that, we must also play a different
game in London against West Ham." City will probably have to win
both matches with Spurs a point ahead of them and facing already
relegated Burnley on the final day. But, after a turbulent season,
Mancini believes it could well be City's destiny.
He said: "It would be an amazing experience to get this
club to finish fourth. "It's like the last game I had with Inter
against Parma when we won the Scudetto. This is important just like
that.
"If we finish fourth, I will be happy for all the City
supporters because they deserve something this special.
"I will be happy for the owners, the players, everyone
associated with the club." The prospect of Champions League
football will also be a carrot to dangle in front of the big stars
Mancini wants to buy in the summer.
The City boss added: "If we finish fourth we will have
a good chance of getting two or three really good players for next
season. "Even if we don't, I think that will be a big mistake if
players don't want to come here because I think in the future
Manchester City will be a fantastic team."
Mancini believes former boss Mark Hughes should also
take half the credit after laying the ground work before his
sacking in December.
The Italian said: "Hughes worked here for the first
five months of the season and worked very well. If we get fourth
position he deserves 50 per cent of the credit. "I think he worked
well here. I've worked for five months, he's worked for five
months, so the season has been split between us."
With so much resting on tonight's game at Eastlands,
Mancini is calling on the fans to raise the roof. He said: "The
supporters must be better than in our last game against Aston Villa
on Saturday - even though we won 3-1. We really need a good
atmosphere for this one."
