Mancini sees no need to strengthen

Mancini sees no need to strengthen

Published Jan. 31, 2010 5:40 a.m. ET

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini will stamp his "own identity" on the club in the summer but does not feel signings are necessary yet.

Mancini has so far added only Patrick Vieira to his squad since taking charge at Eastlands, although he has been linked with a move for Parma midfielder McDonald Mariga.

Mancini is happy with his squad as it stands, though, and has assured fans he is free to make signings as soon as he sees fit.

"I can buy players if I want to - and I am sure that will happen in the summer," Mancini said in the Sunday Mirror. "But I am happy at this moment because we already have a good team.

"The thing I am concentrating on now is doing well in the Premier League and FA Cup and if we do that it will help the plans I have for the future.

"People probably thought I would bring my own identity to the club - and I will - but these things will happen at the end of the season.

"I have good players here and the only problem has been that we have had a lot of players injured since I came here.

"We have signed Patrick Vieira and he will be available in the next 10 days and maybe we can bring in somebody else."

Mancini points to Robinho's loan move to Santos as evidence that City's hierarchy are not interfering with team affairs.

"I spoke with the owners about Robinho, but it was my decision that he should be allowed to go to Santos," he explained. "Of course I speak with Khaldoon (Al Mubarak) and Garry Cook all the time and we are all sorry about what happened.

"Robinho wanted to play all the time because it is World Cup year and that wasn't going to happen here."

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