Mancini told to win league title for Zenit

SAINT PETERSBURG: Roberto Mancini the new manager of Russian Premier League giants Zenit St Petersburg said Tuesday he was targeting the national title and a place in the Champions League with his new club.
"Our main goal which the club president has set us - is to return to the Champions League next year by winning the national title," the 52-year-old manager said at a special ceremony.
"We will play superb football, different from the other sides. Our goal is to win the Russian championship.
"And we can achieve it by establishing the mutual understanding between Zenit's technical staff, the team's current players and those, who will join the club in the future."
Last week Zenit signed a three-year deal with Mancini, who won three consecutive Italian Serie A titles with Inter Milan in 2006-08 and led Manchester City to the English Premier League title in 2012.
The agreement includes the option of an extension for two further years.
Mancini became an immediate successor to Romanian coach Mircea Lucescu who was sacked after Zenit's disappointing third place league finish, which saw them miss out on Champions League football next season.
The deal set up a fascinating Italian duel in the Russian top flight next season after newly-crowned champions Spartak Moscow extended their contract with Massimo Carrera, who previously worked under current Chelsea boss Antonio Conte with Juve and Italy's national team.
Last season Carrera led the Muscovites to their 10th Russian title, their first domestic league's victory since 1999. — AFP