FA Cup: Has Victory Doomed Roberto Mancini's Manchester City Career?

Yesterday, Manchester United's dreams of repeating 1999's treble success were shattered as they lost their FA Cup semifinal to fierce rival Manchester City by a goal to nil.

The match itself was a pretty stale affair, City setting up as if they were scared to move into the opposing half, but it was a tactic that served them well and ensured they would be in their first Cup Final since 1981 where they will be hot favourites to lift the trophy for the first time since 1969.

Also, Paul Scholes did what Paul Scholes does as he practically drop kicked Pablo Zabaleta and was shown a straight red. I suppose old habits die hard....

City's triumph, however, has more far-reaching consequences than a Cup Final and impromptu karate lessons for those still left in the competition.

Those consequences will be felt most at Eastlands. Manager Roberto Mancini has been under pressure of late, especially after the 3-0 reverse to Liverpool, and whilst victory at Wembley will of staved off negative press for the time being, he'll know only Cup success will be acceptable to his Middle Eastern overlords.

City will face Bolton or Stoke in the Final, both teams they would be expected to beat. But mark my words, neither side will be going down without a fight. Bolton haven't been in the FA Cup final since they last won it in 1958 and Stoke have never gotten as far as the Final. Both these sides will be desperate to claim silverware and it's safe to say most of the neutrals will be supporting the underdog as no doubt people see City's success as "bought" rather than "earned."

Not only this, but it could be argued that the Citizens' "mercenaries" will lack the passion and drive to win the Cup, whereas for a lot Stoke and Bolton players, it's a boyhood dream to lift the trophy thus they'll be more up for it.

Furthermore, even if his players are energised and wanting the win, they themselves will have mountains of pressure on their shoulders after the red tops will blather on about supporting the underdog and revving the country up against them.

So what does this add up to for Mancini? Well, his job will likely be on the line, even more so if City fail to qualify for the Champions League. His side will be facing a team, backed by millions of fans, that will make themselves difficult to beat and will be chomping at the bit for a crack at his group of expensively assembled players who may be suffering from a severe case of nerves. Or in Mario Balotelli's case, simply not care (joke, City fans).

So has Mancini driven himself into oblivion? Not yet, no. But it will be interesting to see how he, and his side, react to all this come May 14^th.