City boss has heart set on two trophies

MANCHESTER CITY boss Roberto Mancini has responded to his side’s Champions League exit by targeting at least two trophies this season.

City are still on course for a memorable season despite seeing their hopes in Europe’s elite competition end at the group stage on Wednesday night. Most notably they hold a five-point lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League and they have a Carling Cup semi-final against Liverpool to come next month.

Mancini said: “I am sure we will improve, but it is important to finish well this year.

“When I say finish well this year, I mean to maybe win two trophies.”

City will now go into next week’s draw for the last 32 of the Europa League alongside their neighbours United, who also went out of the Champions League on Wednesday.

Yet while this might be regarded as a humiliating experience for a club as accustomed to top-level success as United, Mancini does not feel it should be for City.

“The Europa League is now an important trophy. The Barclays Premier League is the priority — and the Europa League, Carling Cup, FA Cup.

“I think if we are lucky and we don’t have a lot of injuries in the future, we have a team that can play all competitions.”

Meanwhile, AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani remains hopeful the club can agree a loan deal for City striker Carlos Tevez, despite reported interest from Paris St Germain.

Galliani announced on Monday the Italian giants had made an offer to City to take the Argentinian on loan in January with a firm option to buy next summer. City have not formally acknowledged they have received an offer, but manager Mancini said the club do not want to let the 27-year-old leave on loan.

PSG have also been linked with a move for Tevez, and although Galliani claims he is aware of interest from the Ligue 1 big spenders, he still has hopes of bringing the player to the San Siro.

“Yes it’s true, PSG are also in the running although I haven’t heard from [their sporting director] Leonardo,” Galliani told Sky Italia.

“We know City’s desire is to the sell the player, our proposal is to loan him and hope City say yes.

“I’m neither optimistic nor pessimistic. I can certainly say the player would prefer to be at Milan but you have to convince City to send him out on loan and that’s not easy.”

Tevez is currently in his native Argentina having flown home without City’s permission a month ago.