Supersport
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes defending the Premier League trophy will be harder than clinching the club’s first title in 44 years. City ended their long wait to be crowned kings of English football in the dying seconds of last season with two goals in stoppage-time to beat QPR 3-2 and pip bitter rivals Manchester United on goal difference. But now United have key defender Nemanja Vidic back to fitness after missing half of last season and have also beaten City in the race to sign Dutch striker Robin van Persie from Arsenal.
Van Persie was a long-time target for Mancini only for United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to clinch the US$37,7 million deal last week.
With Chelsea also splashing the cash in a bid to close the gap on City, Mancini, whose side begin their title defence against promoted Southampton at Eastlands on Sunday, is under no illusions about the size of the task facing his team.
“It will be even harder than last year. United have played for the title every year for 20 years. Just because we won the championship last time, we can’t change that,” he said.
“Van Persie is one of the best strikers in the world — he is a really top player, the best striker last year. With Wayne Rooney, they will be the best strikers in the Premier League.
“They signed him because they needed another striker. They are better with Van Persie. We have four strikers, it was impossible for me to have another one.”
