Mancini begins to make his mark

After being handed backed so unequivocally yesterday by Khaldoon al-Mubarak to be the manager "for many years", Roberto Mancini has quickly outlined his plans to implement changes - most notably to the training regimen, a point of some contention of late:

"I think they have a different culture [here] from Italian players. But all players want to play, they all want to win, and all the players don’t want to work hard.

"In the summer, though, I will change everything for the players. It will be difficult. I said to them, "Recover very well in the summer because if we want to win next year we will be working harder. "I'm serious about the double training. When we have a week with no midweek matches, there will be on day when we have double sessions. I have always done that."

Not quite 'my way or the highway' or but perhaps making the point (and aimed as the supposed mutinous factions) that having been given the mandate for the long term he very much intends to put his own personality and stamp on the club (something I expected in this post yesterday).

There have been reports of the squad being either pro or anti-Mancini, but whilst I don't expect wholesale departures this summer (the extra demands of the Europa League require a larger squad anyway) it will be interesting to note where there is a pattern in the players that do depart.

But having been given the backing of the board as being the man they want it is interesting that Mancini has come out so publicly in what is a message being laid down, particularly so when discussing Carlos Tevez, as the Italian suggested he had explained what is required and that Tevez is in agreement about the direction Mancini wants to head.

Less subtle than 'Sparkyisation' perhaps - and more of a progression than the radical overhaul Mark Hughes felt compelled to undertake - but this summer will likely bring about changes in attitude and methods that will be just as important as the transformation that Hughes sought to implement.