Mancini hoping for squad additions

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has admitted his squad needs strengthening next season.

Mancini’s men have an FA Cup Final to look forward to on Saturday, but their Premier League and Europa League challenges fell away some time ago.

And the Italian knows it becomes difficult when a squad is attacking on several fronts.

He said: “Tottenham had this problem this year, and they had 26 or 27 good players. When you play in the Champions League and want to try and win the title, you need many players. It is very hard without that.”

“In Europe there are many players who can come to play for Manchester City. But the same can also play in other important teams.”

“I do not know how many players I will need at this moment. Getting in the Champions League means our targets will be higher.”

“But in the last year we brought good players – Yaya Toure, Mario Balotelli, David Silva, Jerome Boateng, Edin Dzeko, James Milner, Aleksandar Kolarov. They are all fantastic players.”

“Next year these players can improve as it is not easy to play in the Premier League.”

But before all the comings and goings of the summer transfer window, City have that Wembley date with Stoke City to look forward to.

Their last piece of silverware came in 1976 so it is a massively important game for the expensively-assembled squad.

“We have four very important days to recover and think about the final. I do not want to talk about new players now because I will have a think after the game,” Mancini said.

“I know we can now have a perfect season, if we can recover well for the final.”

Second choice goalkeeper Shay Given (shoulder) and defender Jerome Boateng (knee) will be unavailable.