Not getting the credit he deserves at Eastlands?
Claudio Ranieri once said to the assembled media at a press conference; “Football managers are like a parachutist. At times it doesn’t open.” At the time, Ranieri was having to fend off rumours that his job was under threat from then England boss, Sven Goran Eriksson, and under much scrutiny, the likable Italian appeared to be cracking under the pressure. Sure enough, during the Champions League semi-final against Monaco days later, the Chelsea parachute failed to open for the last time and Ranieri’s tenure was as good as over.
Nearly seven years later, as Roberto Mancini reflects on his first year in charge at the City of Manchester Stadium, he may do well to remember the fable of Ranieri. Very few men in football have been trusted with spending the vast quantities of money that both Italians have been allocated. Yet, while the financial freedom liberated Ranieri’s successor at Chelsea, Jose Mourinho, Ranieri was a man constantly ill at ease with the rags to riches nature of his term at Stamford Bridge.
You may suggest that there is a far clearer parallel between Mancini’s predecessor, Mark Hughes, and the eccentric former Chelsea manager. Both men were unwanted baggage for their club’s new owners, and were written off from an early stage as being short-term appointments.
However, when it comes to being judged as a manager in these unique situations, both Ranieri and Mancini have much in common. It is the nature of the vast sums of cash available to the current Manchester City boss that success at any level will be intrinsically linked with the financial backing supplied by Sheikh Mansour, a feeling that Ranieri knew all too well during his time in the Premier League.
Mourinho was not constrained by such an asterisk. His success as a Champions League winning manager negated the financial advantage his management was given. Until Mancini gains this sort of success, his record at City will be forever be doused in scorn. But is this fair?
Results so far this term have been solid without being spectacular. Whilst City are certainly in the title race, they must appreciate that in any other season, their current points tally would put them out of contention. They have failed to chase big games, electing to park the bus against Arsenal and city rivals United, whilst they did just enough to see off an uninspired Chelsea.
The signings made under Mancini are equally difficult to judge. His acquisition of Patrick Vieira was always very much a hiding to nothing, and whilst the former French skipper has had little impact on City’s success, he can hardly be considered a failure. The purchases of James Milner and Adam Johnson have, in general, been positive additions to the City squad and Mario Balotelli has shown glimpses of the talent that attracted the Italian but the attitude which convinced Inter Milan to let him go.
Mancini has coped reasonably with his expensively assembled squad, staving off a crisis when Carlos Tevez looked set to walk out of the club, controlling the egos of several of the more highly strung members of the side, and making the most difficult decision of his tenure so far; bringing in Joe Hart to replace the more than capable Shay Given.
Nevertheless, such are the fluctuating fortunes of the league’s top clubs, Mancini could find himself under severe pressure should the clubs around City win all of their games in hand. It was not so long ago that the manager’s decision to replace Carlos Tevez was accompanied by widespread booing and chants of; “You don’t know what you’re doing!” Results, as always will absolutely have to keep coming.
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But is Mancini not doing a good job? It is incredibly difficult to judge City’s season on the strength of their achievements to date – cynics would suggest that everything they have accomplished thus far is simply to be expected considering their level of spending. Any real judgement will have to be made at the end of the season, Champions League qualification must be accomplished at the bare minimum. However it would look at this point that Roberto Mancini’s expensively woven parachute might just open to save him, he only need to look down at Claudio Ranieri to see what happens if it fails.
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