‘The hard way is the City way’

Roberto Mancini has spoken of how winning the hard way is “the City way”, after the Blues struggled to their first league title in 44 years at the weekend.

Speaking on the club’s official website, he said: “The supporters have never lost faith or patience – even in the last five minutes [of the final match].

 “We are so pleased that, this season, we have delivered some history for them.”

He also praised local rivals Manchester United as “a great club and a great opponent”.

Indeed, many United fans will be reassessing the end of their season and wondering where it all went wrong – and the Manchester derby at the end of April is just one moment in the turning of the tide.

City’s 1-0 win set them on their course to three wins from their final three fixtures of the 2011-12 campaign, a run-in that proved insurmountable for the Reds.

Just a few weeks ago, Mancini was making headlines for his claims that his team were out of the running – a statement he made several times in post-match interviews and press conferences.

However, Yaya Toure told CNN the apparent negativity was just a ruse, revealing that the manager had saved his words of inspiration for behind the closed door of the Manchester City dressing room, while taking the pressure off of his players in public.