Man City head to Wembley on a huge high
Roberto Mancini has been criticised to an absurd extent at several times during his first two seasons at Manchester City for a perceived pragmatic approach but his guidance ensured that they wrapped up qualification for the Champions League with an ease that fans probably judged unthinkable.
The Citizens climbed into the top four with a 2-0 victory at Wigan on September 19 and have barely looked in any danger of failing to meet their pre-season target since, securing their spot in an unusually comfortable manner with two games to spare after Tuesday's 1-0 win over Tottenham.
The conclusion of a three-year rise from mid-table obscurity to dining at Europe's top title will ensure that everybody associated with Manchester City will be buoyant ahead of Saturday's trip to Wembley for the FA Cup Final against Stoke, where they intend to end a 35-year wait for silverware.
Mancini's men are [1.46] favourites to get their hands on the trophy and are [1.92] to triumph in 90 minutes against a side that they haven't defeated in any of their last four meetings, with the return of captain and top goalscorer Carlos Tevez a significant boost to their hopes of being successful.
A number of senior members of the club's squad, including goalkeeper Joe Hart and star defender Vincent Kompany, are determined not to let their Premier League campaign fizzle out though and are setting their sights on overtaking Arsenal in third to gain an automatic pass to the group stage.
Manchester City trail the Gunners by two points and are still to host Stoke and visit Bolton, two clubs with nothing besides top-half finishes to play for. Admittedly, Arsene Wenger's team are in a similar position with Aston Villa and Fulham left to face, however their form is far less convincing.
Think the Blues will leapfrog the north Londoners? They are [4.0] to do so...
Published: 11 May 2011
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