Article

Mancini refutes Guardiola speculation

18 January 2013 15:30

Roberto Mancini says he never felt his position at Manchester City was under threat despite speculation linking Pep Guardiola with the job.

Following the appointments of former Barcelona executives Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain at the Etihad Stadium and the Premier League champions' second consecutive group stage exit from the Champions League, the 42-year-old was touted as a possible replacement for Mancini.

However, the former Barcelona coach has since agreed to take the helm at Bayern, replacing Jupp Heynckes in the summer, and Mancini believes all previous ties were unfounded.

"I didn't have any problem for this - I understand the newspapers should write that every manager wants to take this place because it is a good place," Mancini told reporters.

"But I think we work very well here, I have a five-year contract and I think this is possible for five years."

City are seven points behind rivals Manchester United in the race for league title, with Fulham their opponents on Saturday.

Info

Manchester City

L W L W D

2 - 0

Fulham

W L L L L

Competition

Half-time: 1 - 0
Full-time: 2 - 0

Venue: Etihad Stadium (Manchester)
Attendance: 47286

Goals

David Silva 2'	1 - 0
David Silva 69' (assist by C. Tévez)	2 - 0

Lineups

#	Player	Bookings
1	J. Hart
4	V. Kompany
22	G. Clichy
5	P. Zabaleta
33	M. Nastasić
18	G. Barry
7	J. Milner
14	Javi García	65'
21	David Silva	2' 69'
32	C. Tévez
10	E. Džeko
Coach: R. Mancini

#	Player	Bookings
1	M. Schwarzer
18	A. Hughes
5	B. Hangeland
27	S. Riether
24	A. Dejagah
7	S. Sidwell
16	D. Duff
15	K. Richardson	56'
14	G. Karagounis	24'
9	D. Berbatov
11	B. Ruiz
Coach: M. Jol

Substitutes

#	Player	Bookings
8	S. Nasri for P. Zabaleta 63'
16	S. Agüero for C. Tévez 81'
6	J. Lescott for David Silva 89'
13	A. Kolarov
17	J. Rodwell
30	C. Pantilimon
45	M. Balotelli

#	Player	Bookings
17	M. Briggs for K. Richardson 67'
10	M. Petrić for A. Dejagah 73'
4	P. Senderos
6	C. Baird
20	H. Rodallega
31	A. Kačaniklić
38	N. Etheridge

Sunday 19 May

19:52	Russian Premier League Wrap: Point gives CSKA Moscow title win
19:48	Ancelotti asks to leave PSG
19:22	Premier League: West Ham 4 Reading 2
19:18	Premier League: Swansea 0 Fulham 3
19:16	Premier League: Chelsea 2 Everton 1
19:14	Premier League: Tottenham 1 Sunderland 0
19:13	Premier League: West Brom 5 Manchester United 5
19:05	Premier League: Manchester City 2 Norwich 3
19:03	Premier League: Wigan 2 Aston Villa 2
19:01	Premier League: Newcastle 0 Arsenal 1
19:00	Premier League: Southampton 1 Stoke 1
18:58	Premier League: Liverpool 1 QPR 0
17:31	Nasri denies PSG rumours
16:30	English League One: Brentford 1 Yeovil 2
16:13	Diego confirms Atletico interest
14:07	Leonardo: PSG honoured to have Beckham
13:17	Conte plays down Tevez talks
13:10	Jones apologises to Whelan over incident
12:51	Benitez hails Torres return to form
12:41	Ashley ´offers incentive´ for Magpies win
12:09	CSL Wrap: Guangzhou Evergrande, Shandong Luneng win again
11:56	K-League Wrap: Ulsan upset Pohang
04:59	Badstuber suffers injury blow
04:43	Ranieri eyes Falcao swoop
04:22	Carragher open to coaching role
04:07	Stramaccioni resigned to Inter fate
03:58	Clichy extends City stay
03:39	Vilanova not involved in Neymar talks
03:19	Neymar future up in the air
03:17	Hodgson wants players released
03:00	Conte has big plans for Juve
02:32	UAE Pro-League Wrap: Al Shabab stay in running
01:50	Emotional Beckham thanks PSG
01:27	Home-town club farewells Heynckes in style
00:26	La Liga Wrap: Valencia, Sociedad notch vital wins

Saturday 18 May

23:50	Allegri: Players should not have to tackle racism
23:11	Ligue 1: Paris Saint-Germain 3 Brest 1
22:57	Serie A: Sampdoria 3 Juventus 2
20:26	Thai Super League Wrap: Muangthong extend their lead at the top
19:15	Vilanova to have more cancer treatment
19:13	SPL Wrap: St Johnstone snatch European place as Inverness lose
19:05	Mazzarri coy over Napoli future
19:04	Bundesliga Wrap: Hoffenheim make miracle escape
17:59	Parkinson: Bradford fans deserve promotion
17:47	Lambert wants highest possible league finish
17:31	Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund 1 Hoffenheim 2
17:27	Celtic´s Wilson pleads for longer break
17:21	Bundesliga: Borussia Monchengladbach 3 Bayern Munich 4
17:11	McArthur wants Wigan to end on a high
17:05	Cortese to remain executive chairman at Southampton
16:31	English League Two: Northampton Town 0 Bradford City 3
16:18	Rodgers praises Carroll´s West Ham form
16:15	Brighton investigate dressing room incident
16:14	Pardew admits to second season struggle
15:59	Laudrup keen on bringing in Michu assistance
14:43	Hughton insists Holt will stay put
14:34	Jol outlines summer transfer plans
14:08	Colback eyeing Tottenham shock
13:07	Villas-Boas would welcome technical director
13:01	Tiote: Newcastle have not been good enough
12:25	Neville proud to win over Everton fans
12:08	Mancini sacking is ´amazing´, says Ferguson
11:31	Benitez coy on lap of honour
11:08	Wenger: Bayern win was turning point
05:28	Liga MX Wrap: Monterrey share spoils with America
02:47	Simeone: We no longer fear Real Madrid
02:31	Mourinho laments ´horror season´
00:26	Copa del Rey: Real Madrid 1 Atletico Madrid 2 (AET)

Friday 17 May

23:49	Stoke to investigate pig´s head incident
22:42	Beckham could still have PSG role
21:02	Lennon fears Hearts relegation
20:52	Dante out to defeat Gladbach
20:35	Second year of Malaga ban waived
19:45	Villas-Boas confident of keeping Bale
19:13	Balotelli warned against walk-off protest
18:58	Premier League reveal third-place play-off plans
18:43	Navas ´excited´ by Manchester City link
18:39	Ancelotti denies Real contact
18:08	DIS confirm Neymar to Barcelona talks
18:04	Serie A Preview: Siena v Milan
17:48	Premier League Preview: Wigan v Aston Villa
17:37	Bassong crowned Norwich´s player of the season
17:28	Laudrup: Finishing eighth would be like winning the title
17:18	Premier League Preview: Southampton v Stoke City
17:12	Rodgers wants lengthy Liverpool stay
16:57	De Vrij pens new Feyenoord deal
16:43	Bale named Barclays Player of the Year
16:36	Ward-Prowse: I´ll keep improving
16:28	Jol calls for strong finish
16:28	Del Bosque: Casillas has my support
16:15	Coloccini: French recruits will blossom with time
16:04	Clarke has learned a lot in first year at West Brom
15:24	Di Canio backs Fletcher to shine
15:19	Icardi flattered by Inter rumours
14:48	Walters aiming to end season on a goalscoring high
14:26	Premier League Preview: Manchester City v Norwich
14:24	La Liga Preview: Barcelona v Valladolid
14:09	Lambert keen to secure future of Christian Benteke
13:29	Pirlo hoping for Juventus improvement
13:27	Roberts criticises new FA racism ruling
13:25	Serie A Preview: Inter Milan v Udinese
13:19	Serie A Preview: Sampdoria v Juventus
13:16	Premier League Preview: Swansea v Fulham
13:09	Moyes praises Everton squad
13:04	MLS stars pay tribute to retiring Beckham
12:50	Villas-Boas still battling for fourth place
12:35	League One play-off final Preview: Yeovil meet Brentford at Wembley
12:23	Ferguson raring to go in his final Manchester United match
11:59	Premier League Preview: West Ham v Reading
11:48	Premier League preview: West Brom v Manchester United
11:40	Wenger: Destiny in our own hands
11:28	Premier League Preview: Newcastle v Arsenal
11:19	Podolski focused on UEFA Champions League qualification
11:13	McManaman ruled out for three months
11:11	Premier League Preview: Tottenham v Sunderland
11:03	Premier League Preview: Liverpool v QPR
10:42	Manchester City appoint Patrick Vieira as new Head of Elite Development Squad
10:37	Lampard: Return of Mourinho would be a huge lift
10:35	Cesar does not expect QPR stay
09:07	Ligue 1 Preview: Top versus bottom, Lyon aim for Europe
08:34	Lewandowski coy on next move
05:39	Copa Libertadores Wrap: Olimpia, Santa Fe progress
04:33	Loew rues missing stars
03:48	Deschamps talks up Nasri recall
03:00	Simeone: Atletico happy to be Copa underdogs
01:52	Beckham retirement shocks May
01:45	Stramaccioni focused on Udinese
01:07	Keller calls for late Schalke surge

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