Mancini ready for City´s defining run-in

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini admits his side’s push to land a Champions League place over the last five games of the season is the most important period in the club’s history.

City are on course to qualify for Europe’s elite club competition after climbing to fourth in the Premier League, one point ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham.

Mancini knows City’s billionaire Abu Dhabi-based owners are desperate to see their club compete in the Champions League and they can take a giant step towards that goal with a win over bitter rivals Manchester United on Saturday.

This five-match run will have a significant bearing on City’s future and possibly Mancini’s as well as the Italian’s job has been repeatedly been linked with other big names bosses like Jose Mourinho.

“These are important games,” Mancini said. “The last month of the season will be fantastic for us. After Saturday we have four games left and they are going to be the most important in the history of the club.”

“It is important we finish in fourth because we can change the way we are going.

“It would put us in the Champions League next year and that would make it easier to get the players we want.”

Ahead of the defining stage of City’s season, Mancini confirmed England left-back Wayne Bridge and Irish midfielder Stephen Ireland should be fit for the Eastlands clash.

Bridge has been out with a hernia problem and Ireland an ankle injury, but they have trained this week and Mancini revealed they are both fit for selection.

Mancini confirmed City were interested in Hamburg defender Jerome Boateng, who has been touted for a move to Eastlands, but claimed no decision over a firm bid would be made until the end of the season.

“He is only young but he is a good player,” Mancini said.

“We have followed him, like we have followed a lot of players but I don’t think we will decide what to do until after this season is over.”