Manchester: Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini admits that he feels he could be sacked at any moment as his side prepare for a tough trip to Arsenal in a crunch match in the title run-in. With just the Premier League to fight for, Mancini is well aware that Khaldoon al-Mubarak, the club's chairman, could relieve him of his duties if City do fail to seal the title - which now requires them to claw back a five-point deficit on Manchester United.
The Italian, though, believes that he will be given time to ensure trophies every season at the Eastlands and spoke of his admiration for al-Mubarak claiming, "My relationship with Khaldoon is fantastic. If he sacked me at the end of the season or next year, I would say that every manager who works with Khaldoon is very lucky. He is a really good man. This doesn't change my opinion about him or the club."
"But I don't have this problem because I will continue in my job. I'm sure that this club has arrived at the top. With two or three more players after this year, this club will start to win, and when it starts to win, it will win two or three titles every year. Now it has arrived."
"I've been in this world for a long time and I know you can lose this job. But it's important to me that the squad have improved a lot over the last two years. We are progressing. I don't decide this [my future]. I do the best for my job and after I don't decide this situation."
The 47-year-old is convinced that his short-term prospects at the Eastlands look good, even if his men do not overhaul a United side who look unstoppable at the moment. Alex Ferguson's side have won ten of their last eleven league fixtures and seem on course for a 20th title success. They can go eight points above Mancini's men before City kick off at the Emirates, by securing a win at home to QPR.
Mancini, though, brushed off suggestions that his future was on the line because of a potentially trophyless season, and pointed to the progress made as evidence of his managerial credentials. "I don't know this but it's not important for me," he said. "I have a one-year contract. I started this job two-and-a-half years ago and since that moment we have improved a lot as a team, players and a club. This is important when you have a new team."
Mancini believes last season's successes and a sustained title challenge in this one bode well for his chances of still being in charge next season as well. "I hope so because of what's happened over the last two years," Mancini said. "But I know football very well and I left Internazionale after seven trophies with a four-year contract to the end. In football anything can happen in any moment. This championship can change in one week. The same regarding my future. When you choose this job you know that anything can happen in any moment. I don't have a problem with that because when you work hard for your job and improve your team, that's important."
Mancini refuses to believe the game is already up though, and wants his side to focus on winning the league, rather than just a strong finish. "We can't think this now. We should think that we can still win the title," he said. "There are seven games to the end with one derby to play at home. I think we can win this title. It's important that we get the maximum points we can. Last year we got 71 points and now we've got 71 with seven games left."
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