Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has dismissed suggestions he will be the first Premier League manager to get the sack this season. "I'm here for the long haul."
The Italian is under pressure to deliver silverware this term after spending more than £100million in the summer transfer market.
His predecessor Mark Hughes received the sack six days before Christmas last term but Mancini is not thinking of a similar fate.
He told the Daily Mirror: "I don't want six months.
"I want time so I can get the players to play well. We can improve every day if we work. If we don't work, it's difficult.
"It is important that we finish not in the top four but higher. We have four competitions and we want to win something. We must play always to win."
He added: "I am excited, yes. Frightened? No. I am not afraid because we have a good team.
"The Premier League finishes in May, it does not finish at Christmas."
