MANCHESTER: Roberto Mancini has described Sven-Goran Eriksson as being like a “brother” ahead of their reunion in the FA Cup third round today.
Manchester City manager Mancini and Leicester counterpart Eriksson go head-to-head for the first time in their careers in what promises to be an emotional occasion for both men.
Mancini, who enjoyed a brief spell in the twilight of his career at Leicester, played a big role in Eriksson’s successful stint in Serie A.
As a player at Sampdoria, and then as an assistant manager at Lazio, the former England coach has been credited for setting Mancini on the road to management.
“Sven is older than me – and is a teacher for me,” said Mancini.
“I’m looking forward to meeting him again. He is a fantastic coach and for me a fantastic man. I have known him for around 15 years. He is like my brother.
“But it will be very interesting. It will be the first time for me against Sven.
“Sven likes to work, he couldn’t stay at home to watch the games on TV. He has great experience and it’s great to see him here again in management with Leicester.”
Manchester City are already fighting to lift the Premier League title and are in the mix to triumph in the Europa League.
But Mancini says the mega-rich club can fight on three fronts by pushing to end a 35-year-wait for silverware with victory in the FA Cup.
“For me the FA Cup is important,” he explained. “I won 10 cups in Italy when I was a player and a manager.
“I want to play always to win it, and here the FA Cup is really important.”
Despite Mancini’s claims, he is poised to rest a host of key players following a backlog of games over the Christmas period.
Leicester have been transformed since Eriksson’s arrival in the Midlands in October.
Yet the Swede is no stranger to life at Manchester City himself. He lasted only a year in charge at Eastlands, leaving his post in the summer of 2008.
Now how he would love to put one over his old side, inflicting an FA Cup upset to boot.
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