Die Macht » I had a plan and just had to stick to it

LONDON -- As Manchester United undergoes a smooth handover of power, Manchester City appears to be in disarray. City manager Roberto Mancini has publicly expressed anger that the club is not disputing reports that Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini has been lined up to replace him. For his part, Pellegrini is only denying that a deal is in place, leaving open the possibility that he could be headed to the Premier League. "I deny that as of today I am the new coach of Manchester City," Pellegrini said. "I have not signed any agreement with anyone." The public silence from City, though, is speaking volumes. City chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak and his board members have not made a public statement supporting Mancini as the clubs season has imploded. And Mancini was visibly frustrated this weekend that the directors have decided not to shut down the reports that Pellegrini will replace him after almost four years in charge. "This problem has come out because we didnt stop all these things that you wrote for six months," Mancini told reporters in the wake of Saturdays FA Cup final loss to Wigan. "Its been too much. I dont understand why." Mancini is the manager who ended Citys 35-year drought trophy by winning the FA Cup in 2011, and then delivered the teams first English title in 44 years last May. City, though, only won the Premier League on goal difference after scoring twice in the final moments against Queens Park Rangers. QPRs London ground was being used by Mancini to train his team ahead of Tuesdays penultimate league match at Reading. By Citys standards, before being bought by Sheikh Mansour in 2008, finishing second in the league this month would have been a remarkable achievement. But a team that has benefited from around $1 billion of Abu Dhabi investment in five years has failed to build on its position of strength. The Premier League trophy was conceded to Manchester United with four games to go, giving manager Alex Ferguson the perfect retirement gift before handing over to David Moyes. And City has not established itself as a forced in Europe, exiting the Champions League at the group stage for the second straight season. The FA Cup gave City a chance to end the season with a trophy but relegation-threatened Wigan won the final 1-0 on Saturday. "The team looks without passion, desire and (its) difficult to find an answer why everything went wrong," City defender Pablo Zabaleta said. Captain Vincent Kompany is calling for calm amid the turmoil at City. "I think Man City fans just need to bear with us," he said. "We will come here again and win a lot of trophies in the future. We have proven it and it is just a matter of time." It shouldnt take long to see who will manage the team next season. And, for Mancini, history is repeating itself. The Italian exited Inter Milan in 2008 after three successive title wins after discovering he faced being fired in a newspaper. "At that moment I understood that maybe it was true," Mancini said. But Mancini also replaced Mark Hughes at City in 2009 under blurred circumstances. Mancini was forced to concede he had met City about the job two weeks before Hughes was fired -- a move that enraged fans at the time. On Saturday, those fans were bellowing abuse about Pellegrini at Wembley Stadium while chanting support for Mancini. However muddled his departure is proving to be, Mancini will always be the manager who ended the clubs long-wait for silverware. "For this reason we are very popular with the support," Mancini said. "I love them, they love me and Im happy for this. If in the end I will leave I will be the first supporter of Manchester City in the future." Cheap Penguins Jerseys . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Wholesale Penguins Jerseys . General manager Jarmo Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch on Friday that he wants to see Gaboriks contributions go beyond the scoresheet before considering a long-term deal for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. https://www.cheappenguinsjersey.com/ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Stitched Penguins Jerseys . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. Pittsburgh Penguins Shirts . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. Australian Tyler Wright has taken another step towards a maiden world surfing title by powering into the quarter-final of the Roxy Pro France.Wright proved far too good for compatriot Laura Enever and American Sage Erickson in the non-elimination third round on Saturday to move straight through to the quarter-finals.I was happy with how that heat went, I had a plan and just had to stick to it, its a rip bowl on my backhand which is kind of new territory for me, said Wright.American Courtney Conlogue is the only surfer who can deny Wright the 2016 crown.Conlogue stayed alive in the title contest by winning a low-scoring third-round clash against Australians Sally Fitzgibbons and Nikki van Dijk.Conditions were so tricky on that high tide, on my first wave I was hoping to finish that last turn and not making it kind of put me against the wall, Conlogue said.Im stoked to get into the quarters and hopefully I get a few more waves than that.Six-time WSL champion Stephanie Gilmore bblasted through the final heat of the womens third round with an inspiring performance in the days most-exciting exchange against three-time world champ Carissa Moore and fellow Hawaiian Coco Ho.ddddddddddddKai Otton dealt another blow to fellow Australian Matt Wilkinsons faltering mens world title hopes by eliminating him in the third round fo the Quiksilver Pro France.I did not really care about Wilko at all in that heat to be honest, said Otton.I was just all about me. I need to make some heats if I want to stay on tour. I just want to win.I do not want to go out losing in the third round all year and that was a really crucial heat for me. I am rooting for Wilko to win the title, but I have to win my heats when they come.Fellow world title challengers John John Florence from Hawaii and Brazils Gabriel Medina are still in contention in Hossegor. ' ' '