Manchini to go by March if Manchester City fails to reach top four

London, Dec. 23 (ANI): Manchester City's new manager Roberto Manchini may go the Mark Hughes way by May if he fails to crack the top four, as a clause in his 31/2-year contract allows both Mancini and City to part way after six months.

Mancini is happy to have it included, as he will have a set target following Hughes' sacking.

With the money they are set to spend in January, City owner Sheikh Mansour and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak believe that they can make it into the top four.

According to The Sun, Mancini will not be moving his family over to Manchester until next season at the earliest and will live in rented accommodation.

At the beginning of his tenure, Hughes was given a target to reach the top sixth, but sixth place is no longer deemed good enough.

Manchester City CEO Garry Cook said in a statement: "At the end of last season we set a target of a sixth-place finish but, following the accelerated player acquisition activity of the club in the summer, the new target the playing staff agreed with the board was 70 points."

With the Big Four all dropping points, City's owners believe they can make the Champions League.

It will be a tough task for Mancini, who must do so despite a defensive injury crisis and player unrest since Hughes' exit.

His first game in charge is at against the Stoke on Boxing Day. (ANI)