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Five years, five trophies: Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano sets target for new boss

By Paddy von Behr

Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano has set the club a target of five trophies in the next five years.

Roberto Mancini was sacked as manager after failing to deliver silverware this season, despite prior FA Cup and Premier League triumphs.

But Soriano, who joined the club in 2012 from Barcelona, insists a trophy at the Etihad Stadium every season is not essential.

“I would say I want to win five trophies in the next five years,” he said.

“That may mean we win no trophies one year and two in another, but on average I want one trophy or title a year.

“That is the Champions League, the Premier League or the FA Cup.”

Mancini ended City’s 44-year wait for a top-flight title last season, but failed to re-produce the feat this year, falling well short of Manchester United.

The club also crashed out of the Champions League group stage and fell at the final hurdle in the FA Cup with defeat to Wigan Athletic at Wembley.

Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini is expected to succeed the Italian, after confirming he will leave the Spanish club at the end of the season.

Soriano wants the next boss to deliver success to the club, but he isn’t expecting a Sir Alex Ferguson-style 26-year era.

“In football, teams have cycles and you can have managers who go through several cycles and managers who go through one cycle,” he added.

“Obviously, we want the next manager to stay for a number of years, but I think it would not be wise to speculate on the next manager being there for 26 years.

“This is an exception and I think three, four, five years is one cycle.”

City are currently involved in a post-season tour of America, under the tenure of caretaker manager Brian Kidd.

Image courtesy of SNTV, via YouTube, with thanks.

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