Roberto Mancini has boldly predicted that Manchester City “will win” the Premier League title again this season, despite a far from convincing start to the campaign.
City may be unbeaten in the league so far this season, but have drawn three of their five games and are seventh in the table. While it is by no means a crisis, it is in stark contrast to their start to their title-winning campaign when they won four of their first five fixtures.
But Mancini is remaining supremely confident of his team’s chances of retaining their league crown.
“I agree that it is more difficult the second year but we [will] win the title,” he stated. “I think this year all these teams are better teams and probably every game will be more difficult than last year.”
Mancini has put City’s slow start to the season down to a disappointing pre-season, during which time the Italian’s squad was down to its bare bones due to players being following Euro 2012 and injuries.
“It’s difficult because we didn’t have 14 players in pre-season and had new players on the last day of the transfer market and they need time,” he added.
“Another reason we didn’t work well in pre-season is because we didn’t have all the defenders, but we have all these problems and conceded only two goals more than last year.
“We had the best defensive record for the last two seasons, but football is like this – sometimes you don’t concede a goal for 10 games and then concede two or three goals. We need to work hard and have more concentration.
“Maybe we score less than last year after five games but we have had [injury] problems with Sergio [Aguero].”
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