London, May 12: Roberto Mancini's Manchester City future appears uncertain after losing the FA Cup final and then questioning why the club hasn't responded to claims that Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini has been lined up to replace him.
As Mancini was questioned on Saturday after losing to Wigan about the apparent Pellegrini approach, City's media officer interjected to say “reportedly” but wouldn't deny the report when pushed to do so.
“I don't know why the club didn't stop this,” Mancini then said.
While initially claiming to know that the story in Spanish newspaper AS was untrue, Mancini was less sure when pressed by reporters.
“If it's true we will see in the next two weeks,” the Italian said. “If it's not true, you wrote a lot of stupid things for six months. If it's true, I'm stupid because I didn't understand anything about this.
“But I am sure I work with serious people and I'm sure I did a good job, even if we lost this final. Two weeks, maybe one week. Next Sunday. The season will finish. I will know if it's true or not.”
Mancini replaced Mark Hughes at City in 2009 under similarly blurred circumstances.
At his first media conference, Mancini admitted under questioning that he had met chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak about the job two weeks before Hughes was fired.
When asked on Saturday if Al Mubarak had assured him about his future, Mancini responded: “I can't answer this.
“In football anything can happen,” Mancini added after the 1-0 loss to Wigan.
Earlier Saturday, Pellegrini conceded he was unlikely to remain with Malaga next season amid financial problems at the Spanish club.
“Everyone would prefer to stay but unfortunately, the circumstances we are in don't allow that,” Pellegrini said.
“The future is uncertain for all of us, the coaching staff and players have discussed our situation,” the Chilean added.
City will end the season without a trophy, having conceded the Premier League title to Manchester United, and exited the Champions League in the group stage for the second successive season.
Mancini blames Abu Dhabi-owned City's hierarchy for not strengthening the squad enough after the club won the English title for the first time in 44 years last May.
“I think that our mistakes started in the last market because we didn't get enough for our team,” Mancini said. “And when you win the Premier League after so many years the second year is more difficult. We lost some players in key moments—we lost Yaya (Toure) for a month.
“We had a lot of problems this season and I think, with all the problems we had, we did a good season. And when you arrive in the final and you don't play well you can lose a game.”
