Former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini says his contribution to the 2011/12 Premier League champions is nevertheless, evident in their domineering form in the present campaign.
The Premier League club have scored more (106) goals than any other team in the English division so far this season, and the current Galatasaray coach, who guided the club to their last league title as well as the FA Cup, says the players he brought to the club are responsible.
“I’m happy that Manchester City is one of the best teams in England because I built this team,” the 49-year-old Italian said.
“The players that score the goals are players that I bought – Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Samir Nasri.”
Mancini left the Etihad Stadium last summer and was succeeded by Chilean Manuel Pellegrini.
Pellegrini made clear his intention of turning City to a more attacking team in his first media briefing as the third-placed club’s boss.
The likes of Alvaro Negredo, who has already scored 23 goals, and Fernandinho joined the Sky Blues post-Mancini era.
But after reportedly falling out with some of his players last season, he said he held no bitterness towards City over his sacking last summer, just days after his side were beaten by Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
“When you work, you know you can have some problem with the players, this is normal because the manager wants the players to work hard, play well and the players should understand this,” he said.
“When you change the manager, it is better maybe, because you change the way to work.
“I think Pellegrini is doing a good job but what is happening now at Manchester City, we did three years ago. It’s the same.”
The Italian added: “I’m very happy about what I did in Manchester, I love the Manchester City supporters and I had a fantastic experience.
“After four or five years, maybe the manager needs to change team. I did my job, I built a fantastic team, we played fantastic football and we didn’t win last year only because Manchester United bought Robin van Persie.
“He was the difference, if not I think that would have changed the history in Manchester over the last three years. We played really good football and now they are continuing to do this.”
