Mancini: I deserved more respect from City

Roberto Mancini believes he was shown a lack of respect by former club Manchester City.

The Italian guided the club to their first Premier League success in 2012 and won the FA Cup a year earlier.

But after defeat to Wigan in this season’s cup competition and a second-placed finish to Manchester United in the league, Mancini was replaced at the Ethihad Stadium by Manuel Pellegrini.

And the 48-year-old feels that decision was unfair.

“I never expected what happened. I thought I deserved more respect for the job I did at Manchester City,” he told Corriere dello Sport.

“In three and a half years my staff and I did an extraordinary job. I am proud of my work there.

“We rebuilt a club that was not at the top level. They wanted to get into the Champions League, and I got them there.

“We won against all the great clubs – we beat Manchester United 6-1 at Old Trafford.

“For three years City played the best football in the Premier League.

“But Sheikh Mansour and Chairman Khaldoon are two great leaders, to whom I am forever grateful.”

Mancini also said the time was right for Mario Balotelli to return to Italy, after departing City for Serie A club Milan in January.

“We didn’t get as many goals as we’d have liked from Mario,” he continued.

“For some time I realised that England was no longer good for him.

“He, like Luis Suarez, had been targeted by opponents, referees, the public.

“He is an extraordinary player. At 17 I handed him his debut at Inter. I took him to the Premier League at 21. You know what kind of relationship I have with him – I love him.

“But he needed to go home.”