Roberto Mancini has conceded the Premier League title but says he will be at Manchester City next season to try and win it back.
Champions City will go into Saturday's home game with Newcastle 18 points behind Manchester United, if the leaders win at Sunderland in the day's early game.
And Mancini insists City's focus now should be holding off a challenge from London duo Chelsea and Tottenham for the runners-up spot.
He said: "It's over, but this doesn't change anything because we should do our best from now to the end.
"Every top team, when you can't win a title, you should try to play well, try to win all the games, and we have the FA Cup semi-final.
"We have Chelsea four points behind, Tottenham five points behind and we play another nine games. For this reason it's important to keep working hard."
The future of Mancini and midfielder Yaya Toure continue to be questioned in the press, and newspaper reports on Thursday suggested the Italian has been earmarked as the man to revive Monaco's fortunes.
Asked about the link, Mancini said: "Monaco is one of the best teams in the French Second Division and they have a good manager. I'll stay here for a long time - like Yaya!"
Westley, 45, guided Boro to promotion to the Football League in 2010 and into League One the following year and is poised to replace Smith after he was sacked last week.
Following his success at Stevenage, Westley quit to join Preston in January last year but was axed last month with the club just five points above the relegation zone.
Boro say they have a shortlist of three potential new managers but Westley is in pole position and could be back in charge at Broadhall Way over the weekend.
Chairman Phil Wallace said: "Yes, of course Graham is in the frame, along with several others.
"His past achievements for the club would put him in a good position and I'm long over the events of a year ago.
"I always understood the opportunity he had and his reasons for wanting to leave, I just didn't agree with the timing but that's history.
"We have a shortlist now of three and I'd hope that we can make an appointment over the weekend."
