City can avoid Chelsea pitfalls by allowing Mancini to rule like Fergie

Manchester City’s plan to start an Alex Ferguson sort of rule at the Ethiad will depend not on how much money they spend, but how they succeed in managing the club. And by making sure that they keep hold of their management team, manager Roberto Mancini in particular, who has taken them to this wonderland. The initial signs are optimistic that they will avoid the problems Chelsea have had.

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The comparison with Chelsea is very relevant. Remember back in 2005, we heard a similar vision of the future from Chelsea. Then, Peter Kenyon, chief executive of Chelsea, spoke of his vision to turn the world blue. Chelsea went on to win two more titles, indeed, they did the coveted double of League and Cup under Carlo Ancelotti and have won other trophies. The club could still crown it all with what its Russian Tsar dearly wants: the Champions League on Saturday. But if they do not, this is a season with only an FA Cup and sixth in the League, and that domination over United, taking over from Old Trafford in the way Ferguson took over from Anfield, has not been achieved.