Mark Hughes Sacked At Manchester City
Mancini to replace Hughes at City
Manchester City boss Mark Hughes has been sacked, a source inside the club has confirmed to ESPN Soccernet. The club are expected to announce that former Inter Milan Roberto Mancini will take over as manager at a press conference at 1930 GMT.
Much like the Manchester City itself, I struggle to lean one way or another when it comes to Manchester City pulling the trigger on Mark Hughes coaching reign. On one hand I do believe this Manchester City team was way too inconsistent from week to week. After 18 months into the job while the players are better the same flaws routinely appear when watching Manchester City. They let too many teams back into the game, at some point its on the coach to ensure his squad puts teams away when their down. Today’s 4-3 victory over Sunderland was a classic example of this. A two goal lead early and it should be job done, itself this team trends to ease off the gas petal.
Then again it’s not often a team sacks a coach following a win. Middlesbrough did it this season to Gareth Southgate, replacing him with former Celtic coach Gordon Strachan who in turn have only won once since. It’s one thing giving up leads but this wasn’t a case of the Manchester City players tuning out the coach. Yes you can look at the negative but even when they gave up the lead Manchester City seemed to find a reply.
If former Inter boss Roberto Mancini does take over more questions will be asked. First off I’d be expecting the Mario Balotelli to Manchester City rumours to start. I’d also be expecting Mancini to shore up a poor defensive unit, one whom Manchester City have spent a lot of money on. The elephant in the room is what to do with Robinho? Manchester City didn’t spend 30 million pounds to have Robinho on the bench and Mark Hughes could never seem to make him fit into the system. Now it’s Mancini turn to make a bunch of expensive parts work together as a collective unit.