Roberto Mancini: Still feels much affection towards City

Roberto Mancini believes much of the success Manchester City are currently enjoying is down to him.

The former City boss masterminded one of the most famous title race comebacks of all time in securing the club's first top-flight crown in 44 years in 2011/12, while he also won the 2011 FA Cup and 2012 Community Shield.

Many of the players that Mancini brought to the Etihad are still integral parts of Manuel Pellegrini's squad, and he believes that without his influence, City would not be in such a strong position.

“I feel this City is still mine,” Mancini told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“The strength points are the players with whom I won three trophies in Manchester: Yaya Touré, Pablo Zabaleta, Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and David Silva.

“I have good feelings for almost all players I've coached at City.

"I'm proud of my job. We changed the football history in Manchester.

I feel this City is still mine. The strength points are the players with whom I won three trophies in Manchester: Yaya Touré, Pablo Zabaleta, Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and David Silva. Roberto Mancini

“They (City board) asked me to do this in three years and I did it in a season and a half.”

Mancini was speaking ahead of City’s Champions League encounter with Roma on Tuesday, and highlighted areas of potential weakness in Pellegrini’s side that the Giallorossi can exploit.

“Roma play with the ball, as once before," Mancini added.

"City are not the Manchester United of a few years ago, all running and competitiveness. And this could be an advantage for Roma.

“The best tactic against City? The key is a fast start and to take advantage of the opportunity that City will grant them.

“They have to be careful in defence, concentrate for the entire 90 minutes, and be clinical in attack.

“A complete Roma can beat City, but the absences of De Rossi, Castan and Astori make them more vulnerable as a squad."