Manchester City head into the international break 15 points behind arch-rivals Manchester United in the race for the Premier League title.

City won the top flight title for only the second time in their history last season, but the Citizens have failed to get going this season.

It now looks like Manchester United is set to claim the Premier League title this season.

Tactics

Boss Roberto Mancini has been criticised for his tactics at times this season. The Italian boss has experimented with playing three at the back and it obviously hasn’t worked out. Yet the former-Inter boss keeps trying the formation out and seeing it fail.

In Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Everton proved yet again that the current City squad don’t have the capabilities of playing the formation.

Underperformed

The Champions have underachieved this season. When City has had players missing the whole team has fallen apart. Saturday was a prime example of what happens when you take a few players out of the City team.

Against Everton City were missing Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero. Granted they are City’s three key players, but for the amount of money spent the Citizens should have adequate replacements.

Doubts

City’s underperformance this season has led to speculation over Mancini’s future at the Etihad Stadium, despite being the boss that led City to their first league title in over 30 years. Rumours persist that the clubs owners are looking for possible replacements.

Summer

If Roberto Mancini does stay at the Etihad Stadium then who comes in and out this summer will be the difference between success and failure next season. Last summer’s transfer business at City was truly awful. The players that arrived were no better than the ones that left. In fact some were a step down in quality to the ones that left.

Manchester City look to have been defeated in their fight to retain the Premier League crown, but I’m sure that next season they will be back to challenge their arch-rivals once again.

Will Roberto Mancini be at Manchester City next season?