Roberto Mancini plans to remain at Manchester City

| Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Roberto Mancini insists he will remain as Manchester City manager despite failing to lead the club into next season's Champions League.

City saw their hopes of a top-four finish end with Wednesday's 1-0 defeat by Tottenham, which sees Spurs qualify for Europe's elite club competition.

When asked if he would remain in charge next term, the Italian told BBC Radio 5 live: "Yes, absolutely."

City told BBC Sport after the match that they would not be sacking Mancini.

The former Inter Milan boss succeeded Mark Hughes in December and vowed to qualify for the Champions League.

And City looked on course to do so before losing at home to Manchester United and drawing away at Arsenal.

Victory over Aston Villa kept them in the hunt and they went into Wednesday's game a point behind Spurs with two matches to play.

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But Harry Redknapp's men deserved their victory at the City of Manchester Stadium - secured by Peter Crouch's late header - and it moves them four points clear of City going into the final round of games on Sunday.

"We can work together and develop together," said Mancini, whose side will play in the Europa League next season. "I want to win here, I want to be able to win here.

"I think I stay here. Why not? I work here four or five months and I think when you build a house you don't start from the roof but the basement. We work very well but we are near the roof.

"I am not a magician, I don't have a magic wand. We wanted this (fourth) place and we tried like Liverpool, Tottenham and Aston Villa.

"When you don't finish fourth this is football but we did a good job."

Mancini said he had spoken with City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak immediately after the match, adding: "He's disappointed because we lost, this is normal.

"He said thank you to all the team, because for us it was a good season."

City started the game positively but it was Spurs who came closest to opening the scoring when Crouch headed against a post.

The hosts went close through Adam Johnson, while Tottenham's Gareth Bale almost bundled a Gareth Barry cross into his own net, but the visitors took control in the second half.

They had a number of opportunities to take the lead before Crouch sealed the points following Younes Kaboul's deflected cross.

"It's disappointing that we lost this game - we didn't deserve to, we have been very unlucky in some games," said Mancini, whose team travel to West Ham on Sunday.

"At the same time we must be proud because we had a good season, even if we are not playing in the Champions League next year.

"Now we have a good team and can improve on next season."

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