Exclusive - Vialli: Mancini will lead Man City to the title this year or next

Gianluca Vialli says Manchester City will win the Premier League this season or next – because they have one of the best bosses around.

Roberto Mancini has led City to the top of the Premier League table this season, with Sunday’s 6-1 hammering of Manchester United moving them five points clear of their rivals.

And Vialli says it’s only a matter of time before Mancini, a former team-mate at Sampdoria, leads City to the title.

“He is one of the best [managers]. He’s likely to win the championship if not this year, next year, with Manchester City,” Vialli said, speaking to Keys and Gray.

“He’s a bit underestimated, especially when he first came to England. I remember people asking why Man City didn’t go for someone with more experience and a proven track record and the guy had just won three Italian championships, with Inter Milan winning 17 games in a row.

"When you win 17 games in a row, that means as a manager you have got something. Roberto is very good at managing big-name players. He doesn't care about what they do, or what they think, he just picks whatever team he thinks is the best. And he is very good at identifying the right players for the side when he has got to go and sign them, which is a great gift."

Vialli reckons Mancini will also be determined to win the Champions League, as well as the Premier League, so he can go down as one of the all-time great managers.

“You become a true great only when you win in Europe – the Champions League,” he added. “Nowadays you are one of those [great] managers only if you have won the ultimate title in Europe and I think Roberto will think about that a lot and he will want to win that very soon.”