Premier League runners-up Manchester City have sacked boss Roberto Mancini, with speculation growing that Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini will replace the Italian.

Mancini was the first manager to win the English title in 44 years at City.

Empty-handed

Manchester City will finish the season without a trophy and that has cost Mancini his job. Not only will City finish second in the Premier League, but the Citizens also lost the FA Cup final 1-0 to Wigan Athletic last weekend.

The season represents a disappointing one for City, their fans and their mega-rich owners. The City owners must regard the lack of a trophy this season as a backward step.

Backing

Last summer’s transfer activity was always going to cause a situation like this. City brought in Scott Sinclair, Jack Rodwell and Javi Garcia. None of the trio is good enough for a team that are aiming to be the best in Europe.

Mancini had already spent a lot of money, but he needed the City owners backing in the summer. He never got it and the season has ended in failure.

Replacement

Since last Friday there have been rumours that Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini is set to come in as Manchester City boss. The 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Wigan appears to have been the final straw for City’s owners.

Pellegrini is the favourite for the job with the bookmakers, and they are very rarely wrong. The Chilean does have a good track record with the likes of Villarreal, Real Madrid and now Malaga in La Liga.

Change

Mancini leaving Manchester City is yet another change at a top English club this summer. The top three teams in Premier League this season will all have new managers this summer, which is a very bizarre situation. All the changes at the top of the Premier League could make next season a very interesting one.

Did Roberto Mancini deserve to be sacked?