Manchester City chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak is confident new manager Roberto Mancini will secure the club Champions League football next season (Man City 5/4 Premier League Without Big 4).

The Italian, who successfully guided Internazionale to three successive Serie A titles from 2006 before being sacked in 2008, was on Saturday confirmed as the successor to Mark Hughes following the 4-3 victory against Sunderland at Eastlands.

City owner Sheikh Mansour and chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak took the view that a run of two wins in 11 games was not a fair return on Hughes’ summer outlay of £120m and the final straw was the 3-0 defeat by fellow top-four hopefuls Tottenham on Wednesday.

“A return of two wins in 11 Premier League games is clearly not in line with the targets that were agreed and set,” said Khaldoon, in a statement.

“Sheikh Mansour and the board felt there was no evidence that the situation would fundamentally change.”

Mancini will take charge for the first time against Stoke on Boxing Day and Khaldoon is confident he will take the Carling Cup semi-finalists (Man City 9/4 Carling Cup 2009/2010) to the next level.

“Roberto is a hugely experienced manager with a proven track record of winning trophies and championships,” said Khaldoon. “His experience and track record speak for themselves.

“What is absolutely clear is that Roberto believes in Manchester City’s potential to achieve at the highest level and importantly in his own ability to make this happen.

“My hope is that our incredible fans will join us in welcoming Roberto to the football club.”

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