• Premier League

Mancini not concerned by Guardiola talk

Manchester City's trip to West Ham is exclusively live on ESPN this weekend. Click here for how to subscribe

Roberto Mancini denies his tenure at Manchester City could be limited amidst speculation that Pep Guardiola could join the English champions in the future.

The appointment of former Barcelona duo Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Sorriano, who have taken on roles as Director of Football and Chief Executive respectively, prompted rumours that Guardiola would be lured to City in coming years.

The 41-year-old stepped down as manager of Barcelona at the end of last season and is currently in New York to spend some time away from football.

But the strong Spanish ties at the club have forced questions over the current manager's job security, although Mancini insists there is no threat and he is looking forward to a solid partnership with City's incumbent officials.

"Pep is in New York so his problem is the typhoon," Mancini said. "I am here, I want to work well. I want everyone to work well because we are ready to improve and build a stronger team.

"If people write that Txiki is here and maybe next year Guardiola will arrive or another manager, this is not my problem. I'm here, I want to continue to work well because I think we are ready to improve and build a stronger team.

"I'm very happy because we have a new sporting director. He worked for Barca and has big experience with a top team. I have my job, Txiki will have his job, Ferran has his job but together it can work very well."

Despite embracing Begiristain's role with the club, Mancini insists that his player recruitment process will not change and should remain as successful as it did with City administrator Brian Marwood in previous years.

"I want to decide which players we take, this is normal for every manager," he said. "I worked with Brian for three years, he was sporting director, I think Txiki will do the same job. I don't want to go to talk with other teams to buy players, this is not my job. Like every sporting director, he will talk with me before buying players."

City face West Ham at Upton Park on Saturday and Mancini believes that game is more significant than thinking about his future in Manchester.

"We need to think only about West Ham because tomorrow will be a tough game, a very physical game and if we don't play very strong it will be difficult," he said. "Andy Carroll causes a lot of problems for every team because he's a strong player and usually at home it's very difficult to mark him.

"We need to play very strong as a team. I don't think we are strong like last year but we are working hard for this. There are a lot of teams that are weaker defensively at the moment. If I don't make a mistake, we have one of the best defences in the Premier League."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.