Roberto Mancini, Manchester City's new manager, contradicted chief executive Garry Cook here yesterday over when he was approached to take over from sacked predecessor Mark Hughes.
Roberto Mancini, Manchester City's new manager, contradicted chief executive Garry Cook here yesterday over when he was approached to take over from sacked predecessor Mark Hughes.
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Man City's new manager Italian Roberto Mancini at the City of Manchester Stadium yesterday |
The club announced Hughes had been dismissed after Saturday's 4-3 home win over Sunderland, a victory that left City sixth in the EPL table having lost just two league games so far this season.
City called a press conference at their Eastlands ground yesterday to unveil new manager Mancini, the former Inter Milan boss.
Cook, in a prepared statement, tried to outline that no discussions with Mancini had taken place until after City's 3-0 league loss to Tottenham on Wednesday.
But Mancini revealed he had actually met with chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak and the club's billionaire Abu Dhabi-based owner Sheikh Mansour in London a fortnight ago.
Speaking from a statement, Cook said: "It is important for people to know that Roberto was only offered the job after the Spurs game, we negotiated on Thursday and finalised his agreement on Friday."
But Mancini said: "Two weeks ago I met Khaldoon in London. Only to speak in general on football."
Cook then confirmed City had indeed spoken to Mancini but only on "general matters" and suggested media mischief was trying to suggest a "conspiracy."
"It seems there is a conspiracy theory. We need to draw a line and move on to the future," Cook said.
