• Premier League

Mancini admits Aguero goal probably saved his job

Did Sergio Aguero save Roberto Mancini his job? © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Injured Aguero risks Man City rage for Argentina
  
• News: Man City calm fears of Balotelli layoff
  
• Features: Mancini struggling to decide best XI
  
• News: City target Cavani commits to Napoli
  
• News: Fulham complete Berbatov capture
  
• News: Hernandez finalises Swansea switch, Baggies get Popov
  
• News: Maicon and Javi Garcia lead Man City quintet
  

QPR will be thankful there is no Sergio Aguero in the Manchester City squad as they return to Eastlands on Saturday. You can see the match live on ESPN; click here to subscribe.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has admitted he would probably have been sacked had Manchester City not won the Premier League last season.

Sergio Aguero's last gasp goal against QPR on the final day of the season ensured City won the title in the most dramatic circumstances possible and, Mancini believes, saved the Italian his job.

City face QPR for the first time since that memorable afternoon on Saturday. When asked if he reflects on that game at the Etihad Stadium often, Mancini said: "I never think about this; [if we had lost the title] probably at this moment you would be talking to another manager!

"But we didn't win the championship in the last second. We won the last championship during all the season because we deserved to win the last championship. We did better than all the other teams.

"Football is strange and beautiful for this. In the last game we had 44 chances to score, they had three and they scored two goals.

"We had a problem with our heart but in the end it was good."

While happy to have ended City's long wait for a domestic title, Mancini will not be satisfied if that is the only major silverware the club win under his watch - especially considering the sums the club's owners have spent in recent years.

Manchester City completed five deadline day signings to strengthen their squad - with £16 million midfielder Javi Garcia the most significant - and Mancini believes the club is in position to maintain their place at the top of English football.

"In the history of football, it can happen you can win one title every 30 years," he said. "But it is important for us we work well because we want to stay on the top for a long time. We want to stay there for 10 years, 15 years."

The Italian had previously expressed frustration at the club's inability to seal deals earlier in the summer - only the £15m signing of Jack Rodwell came before deadline day - but acknowledged on Friday that difficult negotiations should be expected whenever a club with massive resources is involved.

"I was frustrated as it is difficult to do everything in one week or 10 days, only this reason. Now I think they have worked very well in the last two weeks," he said. "This is the market, this is a problem for Manchester City or Paris St Germain - every time you go to buy one player the other club can ask £20million. This is not correct from the other club and this could be the problem."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.