MANCINI: Feels sympathy for Mark Hughes
The Italian claimed he himself was the victim of a massive
injustice when he was replaced by Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan
after winning the Serie A title three years in a row.
Hughes had City in sixth place when he was sacked last
month.
Mancini has since guided the team closer to the top four and has
overseen the win over bitter rivals Manchester United in the first
leg of the Carling Cup semi-final.
He said: "Of course I feel sorry for Mark. He is a very good
coach who did well here at City.
"But this is part of our job and I'm sure he knows that. I
haven't done anything wrong. I was called by some Manchester City
directors and they offered me the job.
"I'm a professional coach and I said yes. Everybody would have
done the same in my shoes.
"It's not difficult to imagine Mark's feeling because it's
something I experienced when I was sacked after winning the third
Scudetto in a row for Inter. It's a bitter feeling but you have to
move on."
Mancini believes one of his first tasks has been to improve the
team spirit of the most expensively assembled squad in the Premier
League. The former Italy international added: "We have many good
and talented players in the squad but we need to improve our team
spirit. At the moment the squad is too big.
"It becomes difficult to work with more than 24 players when you
don't play in Europe.
"I would be arrogant if I said that we are going to win the
Premier League this year. But I really think we can fight until the
very end.
"The target I have set is a place in the next Champions League,
which would be a huge step forward for this club. But you shouldn't
put limits on your ambitions.
"We won't change many players. I am satisfied with them and
after one month here I have to admit the situation is much better
than I expected before starting the job.
"Maybe we will need to strengthen the defence because we have
had so many injuries but overall I'm happy with these players.
"My first month has been better than I anticipated in every part
of my experience. On a personal level I'm still living in a hotel
and I miss my family a bit.
"Luckily they joined me for New Year's Eve in London. So far I
have gone back to Italy just once, for only 24 hours, to bring over
some staff.
"But I am excited more and more by this life and I have to say
that Manchester is much prettier than I was led to believe. When I
move from the hotel, I will take a flat in the centre of the city
as I don't want to live in the countryside."
