11:59PM BST 17 Aug 2012
Mancini, who could be without goalkeeper Joe Hart, who has a back problem, for the league opener against promoted Southampton at the Etihad Stadium, has added only Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell to the squad who ended City’s 44-year wait for the title.
United, meanwhile, have recruited Van Persie, the £17million Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa and the emerging Crewe youngster Nick Powell. With the title settled only on goal difference in May, Mancini fears that Sir Alex Ferguson’s capture of Van Persie already leaves City playing catch-up.
“I think that without Van Persie, United were two yards in front of us.” Mancini said. “Now, with Van Persie, they have four or five yards. With Wayne Rooney it will be one of the best partnerships in the Premier League.”
Apart from Ferguson, only Jose Mourinho, at Chelsea, has been able to guide a club to back-to-back titles in the Premier League and Mancini feels City face a tougher challenge than last season. “I think that because we won the last championship, our mentality has improved,” Mancini said. “But if you want to stay at the top for a long time, you have to work harder. Sometimes you win the title and the year after is very difficult.
“United have played for the title every season for 20 years. Just because we won the championship last time we can’t change that. It is for this reason they are favourites for the title, especially now they have Van Persie. When you are champions everyone wants to beat you and it will be a difficult game.”
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Failure to sign those players led to friction between Mancini and football administrator Brian Marwood, tensions that eased after talks involving chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak. “I don’t have a problem with Brian, but it was important to start with one signing,” Mancini said. “Sometimes it’s not enough to have money to spend.” Although Mancini fears that Roma’s Daniele de Rossi is too expensive at the £28million asking price, interest remains alive. And a move for Swansea’s Scott Sinclair will accelerate if a deal can be struck with Sunderland or Everton for winger Adam Johnson.
As originally predicted in The Daily Telegraph, City have appointed Ferran Soriano, the man credited with transforming the fortunes of Barcelona, as chief executive. He fills the vacancy created by the exit of Garry Cook and starts work on Sept 1.
